After several years, the release date for Season 4 of Stranger Things has finally been announced.
Netflix recently confirmed that Stranger Things Season 4 will be released in two volumes. Volume 1 will be available for streaming on May 27, followed by Volume 2 on July 1. The show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, explained, "With nine scripts, over eight-hundred 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."
But that wasn't the only big news Netflix had for the series' fans. The Duffer brothers also announced that Season 4 will be the beginning of the hit series' end. Stranger Things Season 5 will conclude the show, though no release date was announced for the future season.
The synopsis released with the announcement teases that the upcoming season will take place six months after the Battle of Starcourt. The core group of friends are separated and must navigate the complexities of high school on their own. While they struggle with their own personal issues, a new supernatural threat arrives, alongside a "gruesome" mystery. If the kids are ever able to bring an end to the Upside Down, they will have to solve that mystery.
Over the last year, audiences have been treated to a few teasers and hints concerning Season 4 of Stranger Things, including clues suggesting the plot will take place in both California and Russia. The last season saw Eleven and the Byers move to California, while Hopper, after seemingly meeting his end with the secret lab, was revealed to have survived. However, he is no longer anywhere near Hawkins. Instead, the former police chief is being held captive in a Russian facility. It's unknown how he survived the explosion and how he was transported to Russia.
Netflix previously teased some of the excitement to come through Season 4's episode titles. The nine episode titles released are "The Hellfire Club," "Vecna's Curse," "The Monster and the Superhero," "Dear Billy," "The Nina Project," "The Dive," "The Massacre at Hawkins Lab," "Papa" and "Piggyback."
Stranger Things has enjoyed immense success since its debut in 2016. While Season 5 may conclude the show, the Stranger Things franchise may continue. Following record viewership numbers after Seasons 2 and 3, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos previously hinted that spinoffs may be in the works, with actor Millie Bobby Brown in discussion for one.