Friday, October 2, 2020

Stranger Things season 4: release date, trailer, cast and what we know

Stranger Things season 4 doesn't have a release date yet – but we're expecting it in early 2021. The show has just recently resumed filming after the pandemic put production on hold back in March. While the original plan was reportedly for the show to finish filming in August 2020, ahead of a release date in early 2021, the year's events had other plans instead.

That said, we know a surprising amount about Stranger Things season 4 so far. For example, there is a trailer for season 4 already, revealing a key plot point – Hopper (David Harbour) is alive, but he's not necessarily in the best place right now. More on that below.

In this guide to Stranger Things season 4, we'll tell you everything we know about the Netflix hit's release date, cast, story and more. 

Spoilers for the first three seasons of Stranger Things follow.

Stranger Things season 4 release date

The Stranger Things season 4 release date hasn't been revealed yet. Netflix tends to angle its release date around public holidays such as Halloween for season 2, or the 4th of July for season 3 – depending on the time of year within Stranger Things itself. 

If things were normal season 4 may have been ready for early 2021: a report from What's on Netflix suggests that filming would have likely finished in August before post-production was due to start.

But in reality, while the script was completed a while back, production began in March 2020, and was quickly at a standstill due to the coronavirus. Now, as of October 2020, filming has finally resumed. Netflix confirmed this on Twitter:

So a Spring season will likely be the best case scenario – that is, if current plot threads end up leading the show's story to the Chernobyl disaster, which occurred April 26, 1986, which isn't long after the 1985 setting of Season 3. (Yes, this theory is from Reddit, but it's pretty legit, okay?)

But while season 4 won't be the final one, the Stranger Things ending is planned. "Season 4 won't be the end," Ross Duffer told THR, "We know what the end is, and we know when it is." Duffer also went on to explain how the pandemic has given the team extra time to map out the show's conclusion and finish the script. But, in other words, Stranger Things season 5 is almost definitely happening.

Stranger Things season 4 trailer: Hopper is alive!

There is one Stranger Things season 4 trailer so far, and you can watch it above. It's just a teaser, but it's our only glimpse of the next season right now.

At the end of Stranger Things season 3, when Russian soldiers said "the American" should not be the victim fed to a captive Demogorgon in a mid-credits teaser, fans knew who they were referring to. It could only be one man: Jim Hopper (David Harbour). This trailer confirmed that theory. 

Along with the Stranger Things season 4 trailer above, which sheds light on where Hopper ended up after the ending of the last season, show creators the Duffer brothers issued a statement on what's happened to the character back in February 2020.

The Duffer brothers said they were "excited to officially confirm that production on Stranger Things 4 is now underway – and even more excited to announce the return of Hopper!" 

"Although it’s not all good news for our 'American'; he is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both human...and other. Meanwhile, back in the States, a new horror is beginning to surface, something long buried, something that connects everything…

"Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest and most frightening season yet, and we cannot wait for everyone to see more. In the meantime – pray for the American." 

All indications are that season 4 is going to get even darker. Joe Keery, who plays Steve Harington, claims this season is the "scariest yet" to Total Film, and David Harbour (Hopper) said to Deadline that while his character was cheerier earlier in the show's run, his journey this season will be "painted in a bit of a darker palette."

Stranger Things Season 4 cast: who's returning?

Brett Gelman plays Murray Bauman in Stranger Things

Brett Gelman plays Murray Bauman in Stranger Things (Image credit: Netflix)

Despite the fact that Stranger Things has now been officially renewed, there are no official casting announcements. However, you can be sure you'll get a lot of the same faces as season 3 – including Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Sadie Sink (Max), and Joe Keery (Steve Harrington). And, of course, Hopper (David Harbour).

Maya Hawke (Robin), a newcomer for season 3, quickly became a fan favorite – and will almost certainly be a big presence – while Caleb's younger sister Erica (played by Priah Ferguson) will likely continue to enjoy a larger role in the show.

Who won't we be seeing? Spoilers ahead (obviously), but we don't expect to see Dacre Montgomery (Billy) or Alec Utgoff (Alexei) again, though the showrunners could always surprise us. Heck, why not bring back Barb? 

Hopper's new situation means the cast is likely to expand. In Matt Duffer's interview with Entertainment Weekly, he said: “I think the biggest thing that’s going to happen is it’s going to open up a little bit, not necessarily in terms of scale, in terms of special effects, but open up in terms of allowing plotlines into areas outside of Hawkins.”

Curiously, using an American accent for multiple years as Eleven has made it difficult for Millie Bobby Brown to speak in a British one, even though she is English. In the run-up to Netflix's Enola Holmes, Brown explained to the Radio Times that I found it really challenging being British in this [Enola Holmes], even though I am a Brit." However, as the 16-year-old superstar develops as an actor, we're sure she won't have any problems with future Stranger Things seasons.

Will Stranger Things season 4 be in 4K / HDR?

The neon-lit shopping mall of Season 3 was a highlight of Stranger Things

The neon-lit shopping mall of Season 3 was a highlight of Stranger Things (Image credit: Netflix)

If you're interested in Stranger Things' good looks as well – as you should be – you may be wondering what video formats the next season will be filmed in.

All three seasons so far have been filmed in 4K Ultra HD resolution, meaning anyone with a 4K TV and a strong enough internet connection will be able to watch in a huge amount of detail. Seasons 2-3 are also in HDR (high dynamic range), meaning an expanded range of colors and enhanced contrast – important for a show awash with bright colors, dazzling neon, and moody skies – though again you'll need an HDR-compatible screen to make the most of it.

Netflix also uses the Dolby Vision HDR format, rather than the competing HDR10+ standard – we know this is a lot to think about with your next TV, but some only support one format over the other.

Stranger Things season 4 is one of our most anticipated Netflix series

Stranger Things has kept finding ways to reinvent itself, with new spooky threats, changes in locations, popular new characters and intriguing relationship developments over the course of the series. 

Taking Hopper to Russia should be a great jumping off point for more adventures in this fictional universe. We can't wait to watch the show again.



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