As different TV shows prepare for their final seasons, the one I’m most excited about is Stranger Things, but after recent updates, I’m not sure if I can handle another delay. Netflix is home to some of the most popular and successful TV shows in recent years and from different genres, and one of the biggest ones is Stranger Things. The show quickly climbed to the top of Netflix’s rankings when it was released in 2016, and it’s now preparing for its fifth and final season after the cliffhanger ending of season 4.

Eleven going missing, which only adds to the excitement and anticipation around this season – but if it’s delayed one more time, it’s going to be disappointing and worrying.

I'm Very Worried About The Duffer Brother's Recent Comments About Stranger Things Season 5's Release Plan

The Future Of Stranger Things Season 5 Continues To Be Unclear

Production of Stranger Things season 5 has faced a couple of obstacles and delays. The 2023 Hollywood strikes delayed production of season 5, and once it could finally start filming, Millie Bobby Brown revealed it was going to be a long production and they had nine months left of filming (via The Jonathan Ross Show, via Bleeding Cool). Stranger Things season 4 was released in 2022 and season 5 began filming two years later, which was enough to know that the final season was going to take a while to arrive.

Matt Duffer explained they will be working on post-production of season 5 in 2025 to have it ready for release, though they are unsure of when and how the final episodes of the show will be released.

Filming of Stranger Things season 5 wrapped in December 2024, and after it was included in Netflix’s big 2025 announcements in January 2025, my hope was renewed about season 5 releasing this year – that was until the Duffer Brothers commented on it. Speaking to Variety, Matt Duffer explained they will be working on post-production of season 5 in 2025 to have it ready for release, though they are unsure of when and how the final episodes of the show will be released.

Matt Duffer added that a lot about the release dates and cadence haven’t been decided yet, and explained it’s important to them and Netflix to “get it out this year” but that “even that is quite the push.” Ross Duffer was more optimistic and added that they are working as fast as they can to get season 5 ready, yet that doesn’t really give me much hope. One would think that, after Stranger Things season 5 was included in Netflix’s 2025 announcement, a 2025 release date would be confirmed by now, but that’s not the case (yet).

Pushing Stranger Things Season 5 To 2026 Would Be Unfortunate For Fans

Yet Another Big Gap Between Seasons

The Duffer Brothers’ update on the potential release date of Stranger Things season 5 makes me lose all hope for a 2025 release, and it’s even sadder as it follows an unfortunate trend. Stranger Things season 1 was released in 2016, and season 2 didn’t take long as it was released a bit over a year later in 2017. The wait for season 3 was a bit longer as it was released in 2019, and then came a longer wait as season 4 arrived in 2022. Now, the gap between seasons 4 and 5 is the longest in Stranger Things history, and it could now become a four-year one.

The delay in the release date of Stranger Things season 5 will surely pay off in the end as it ensures that everything, especially visual effects, will be ready, but it’s unfortunate to keep waiting so long.

Surely, a four-year gap won’t really make fans lose interest in Stranger Things thanks to the ending of season 4, but the wait can feel quite tedious. The biggest problem with such a big gap between seasons is that season 5 takes place a year after season 4’s ending, but the young cast is going to look a lot older. The delay in the release date of Stranger Things season 5 will surely pay off in the end as it ensures that everything, especially visual effects, will be ready, but it’s unfortunate to keep waiting so long.

Stranger Things Season 5's Update Could Mean Another Two-Part Release

Stranger Things Season 5 Could Copy Season 4’s Release Plan

The Duffer Brothers’ update makes me think that Stranger Things season 5 could be repeating the plan of season 4 and have a two-part release, which I’m not sure would be a good idea. Splitting season 4 into two parts wasn’t well-received by the audience, and it certainly felt weird (and unnecessary) to do it that way. With this in mind, Stranger Things season 5 could release its first part in the final weeks of 2025 and part 2 in early 2026.

Stranger Things season 5 will have eight episodes, and they have been teased by the cast to be long, some even feeling like “micro-movies.”

While this wouldn’t be exciting at all, I feel it would make sense due to one important detail: the length of the episodes. Stranger Things season 5 will have eight episodes, and they have been teased by the cast to be long, some even feeling like “micro-movies.” Splitting season 5 into two might be better so the audience isn’t overwhelmed and tired by the length of the episodes, but this decision should also depend on the story itself. For now, the only thing left to do is wait for confirmation of Stranger Things season 5’s release date.

Sources: Bleeding Cool, Variety.