‘Stranger Things’ to end with season 5, penultimate season gets two-part release date on Netflix

Netflix has announced that the long-awaited fourth season of the 1980-set sci-fi series Stranger Things will be split into two parts. 

In an open letter to fans on Thursday, creators Matt and Ross Duffer, better known as The Duffer Brothers, said that the wildly popular show’s Volume 1 will premiere on May 27 while the second half will debut a few weeks later on July 1.

Aside from the two-part release date announcement, the creators also revealed that the upcoming season of Stranger Things will be twice as long as the previous seasons. 

“It’s been a little while,” The Duffer Brothers said. “With nine scripts, over 800 pages, almost two years of filming, thousands of visual effects shots, and a runtime nearly twice the length of any previous season, ‘Stranger Things 4’ was the most challenging season yet, but also the most rewarding one. Everyone involved is incredibly proud of the results, and we can’t wait to share it with you.” 

They added: “Given the unprecedented length, and to get it to you as soon as possible, Season 4 will be released in two volumes. Volume One will release on May 27; Volume Two will release five weeks later on July 1. So that’s the good news. It’s coming soon. And it’s better than ever. It’s also the beginning of the end.” 

Meanwhile, The Duffer Brothers also announced that the hit Netflix show has been renewed for its fifth and final season. 

"Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things. At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four, but—as you'll soon see for yourselves—we are now hurtling towards our finale. Season 4 will be the penultimate season; season 5 will be the last." 

Although the science fiction horror drama is reaching its inevitable end, the creators hinted that the show might receive sequels or spin-offs in the future.  

“There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things: new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes. But first, we hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends, of a broken police chief and a ferocious mom, of a small town called Hawkins and an alternate dimension known only as the Upside Down,” they said. 

Here’s the official description of Stranger Things’ fourth season: “It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time—and navigating the complexities of high school hasn’t made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.” 

Aside from the release date, the streaming platform also unveiled five new posters for the show’s fourth season, giving fans a sneak peek at the locations that will be featured in the upcoming season. 

Check them out below: 

Since the show debuted on the streaming platform in 2016, Stranger Things instantly became a global phenomenon, garnering over 65 award wins and 175 award nominations from several award-giving bodies including the Emmys, Golden Globes, Grammys, SAG, DGA, PGA, WGA, BAFTA, a Peabody Award, AFI Program of the Year, the People’s Choice Awards, MTV Movie & TV Awards, Teen Choice Awards, and many others.