When “Stranger Things” Season 5 premieres on Netflix next year, the streamer will retire one of its most acclaimed properties of the past decade (that is, until the inevitable spinoff). So why not go out with a bang for the show’s final season? And that’s what Netflix has done for Season 5, with an epic production schedule, ’80s stars like Linda Hamilton joining the cast, and acclaimed directors coming out of retirement to direct a couple of episodes.

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5: Frank Darabont Came Out Of Retirement To Direct Two Episodes Of Upcoming Final Season at The Playlist.

Even though his career has spanned decades, Frank Darabont only directed four feature films. And since 2013, the filmmaker has retired from the business. But now, it appears Darabont has decided to un-retire because he gets a chance to work on Netflix’s iconic series, “Stranger Things.” So, why did he decide to come out of retirement for “Stranger Things?” Well, in a new interview with The Daily Beast, he comes clean about his choice. 

Continue reading Frank Darabont Retired From Directing Because “Content Now Is Filled With Horrible People” at The Playlist.

When people think of the most popular project in Netflix history, it’s gotta be “Stranger Things.” For nearly a decade, the release of a new season of “Stranger Things” is a monumental event for Netflix. And that’s why everyone is eagerly anticipating the release of Season 5, as it will bring the end of the story. 

READ MORE: Summer TV Preview: Over 35 Must-See Series To Watch

While we don’t know exactly what is going to happen in Season 5 of “Stranger Things” —outside of the fact that Vecna is involved and the crew we have watched grow up before our eyes will be fighting him—Netflix has decided to pull back the curtain and release a video showcasing the behind-the-scenes hijinks of Season 5. 

In the video, they mention how they are only half-way through filming after months of work already.

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things 5’ Featurette: Take A Look Behind The Scenes Of The Netflix Hit As Production Continues at The Playlist.

Linda Hamilton is in a late-career renaissance right now thanks to Syfy‘s “Resident Alien” and an upcoming role in the fifth and final season of “Stranger Things.” But will she ever return to her most famous role, that of Sarah Connor in the “Terminator” franchise? Sorry, “Terminator” fans: in a new interview with THR, Hamilton all but confirmed her turn as Connor in 2019’s “Terminator: Dark Fate” will be her last.

Continue reading Linda Hamilton Says “AI Writing The Next ‘Terminator’ Movie” Is More Likely Than Her Ever Playing Sarah Connor Again at The Playlist.

It’s pretty crazy to think, years after its absolutely massive debut, “Stranger Things” is still near the top of the TV cultural zeitgeist. This is a show, no matter how long it gets delayed and even if some seasons are worse than others, that just continues to dominate. But, as we all know, Season 5 is coming, and thus, the end of Netflix’s biggest hit. And in a new interview, the creators of the series tease not only that Season 5 will big absolutely huge in scale, but it also will serve as the definitive end to some of your favorite characters. 

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’: The Duffer Brothers Say Season 5 Will Be The “Biggest” Yet & Confirm The End Of Specific Characters’ Stories at The Playlist.

Here is our Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series of 2024 (The Strike-Affected Edition!) feature. 2023’s WGA/SAG-AFTRA/AMPTP strikes were essentially the COVID-19 of 2020. While thankfully, they weren’t as physically deadly, the work stoppage did significantly affect many people in the business and their financial stability. What ties them both together more closely is the disruption of content and product. With streamers already cutting back, regressing on the streaming boom thanks to Wall Street’s reevaluation of their worth, and the strikes delaying a lot of shows for an entire year, the #AgeOfTooMuchContent might officially be coming to a close.

Continue reading The 70 Most Anticipated TV Shows & Mini-Series Of 2024 at The Playlist.

For most people, today is just November 6. But if you’re a diehard “Stranger Things” fan, you know that today is actually Stranger Things Day. And thus, Netflix is here to give fans of the supernatural series some tasty treats, including a first look at the upcoming stage play, “The First Shadow.”

READ MORE: ‘Stranger Things’: Shawn Levy Says Winona Ryder Didn’t Know What Netflix Or Streaming Was When First Pitched The Show

As seen in the new featurette, “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is a stage play that serves as a prequel to the massive hit series.

Continue reading ‘The First Shadow’ Featurette: Go Behind-The-Scenes Of The ‘Stranger Things’ Prequel Stage Play Debuting This Month at The Playlist.

Season one of Netflix’s “Stranger Things” came out of nowhere and became a pop culture phenomenon fast in the summer of 2016. By this point, Netflix had already had a big hit with 2013’s “House Of Cards,” which earned the company its first Emmy nominations. But even then, some didn’t really understand or know what Netflix or streaming was. Or at least Winona Ryder didn’t.

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’: Shawn Levy Says Winona Ryder Didn’t Know What Netflix Or Streaming Was When First Pitched The Show at The Playlist.

At this point, given the ongoing SAG-AFTRA guild strike, who knows when Shawn Levy will shoot “Stranger Things” Season 5? But the longer the wait to shoot the Netflix show’s final season, the older its troupe of once-child actors will look. Fear not, says Levi: EW reports (via Variety) that the director and series executive producer promises he’ll use “all the tools available to us” to keep the “Stranger Things” teen looking like, well, teens, even if they’re in their early twenties.

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’: Shawn Levy Says He’ll Use All The Tools Available To Us” When It Comes To De-Aging The Cast For Upcoming Final Season at The Playlist.

Debuting way back in 2016, most of the cast of “Stranger Things” were literal children when the show began production. Now, with the end coming with Season 5 (possibly) in 2024, it’ll be interesting to see how the cast adjusts and really begins the next phase of their careers as adult actors. “Stranger Things” star Millie Bobby Brown understands that life will be different without the hit TV show, but she’s clearly ready to move on.

Continue reading Millie Bobby Brown Compares End Of ‘Stranger Things’ To Graduating High School: “I Think I’m Ready” at The Playlist.

David Harbour adds another big screen role to his filmography when “Gran Turismo” hits theaters on August 25. And that’s what the “Stranger Things” star wants: because he doesn’t want to be associated with Jim Hopper the rest of his career.

EW reports that in a new interview with Insider, Harbour opened up about the imminent end of “Stranger Things,” and how he’s ready to tackle other parts and roles after the fifth and final seasons.

Continue reading David Harbour Can’t Wait To Play Hopper One Last Time In ‘Stranger Things,’ But He’s Ready For Other Roles: “I Don’t Want To Be Just That Guy” at The Playlist.

“Stranger Things” fans already know the original Netflix series concludes with its upcoming fifth season, which should start filming in a month or two. But Deadline reports that the streamer still has plans for the franchise’s future. Netflix announced today a series order for an animated series set in the “Stranger Things” world, with The Duffer Brothers part of the executive producers team.

READ MORE: Maya Hawke On ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5: “I Would Love To Die And Get My Hero’s Moment”

Flying Bark Productions will develop the series with executive producer Eric Robles in the lead creatively.

Continue reading Netflix Orders A ‘Stranger Things’ Animated Series With The Duffer Brothers Involved at The Playlist.

“Stranger Things” Season 4 started with a shock last year, with (spoiler alert) Grace Van Dien‘s Chrissy possessed and killed by Vecna in the first episode. Van Dien isn’t in the show long, but her connection with Joseph Quinn‘s Eddie set up a lot of the season’s later emotional turmoil. But don’t expect to see Van Dien in anything else soon. IndieWire reports that the actress wants to take a break from acting for a while, citing an uncomfortable on-set incident with a movie producer.

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’ Actress Grace Van Dien Claims A Movie Producer Solicited Her For Sexual Favors On Set at The Playlist.

In today’s episode of The Discourse, host Mike DeAngelo gets spooky with David Harbour (“Stranger Things,” “Black Widow,” “Violent Night”). The actor is currently promoting his film, “We Have A Ghost,” which follows a family that discovers a ghost named Ernest (David Harbour) in their new home, which leads them to become internet sensations while also helping the ghost find peace.

Continue reading ‘We Have A Ghost’: David Harbour On His Supernatural Comedy, ‘Thunderbolts,’ ‘Stranger Things,’ & Neil Blomkamp’s ‘Gran Turismo’ [The Discourse Podcast] at The Playlist.

It’s no secret that James Cameron wants the world of Pandora in his “Avatar” franchise to look as realistic as possible. But it’s not all about digital verisimilitude for the director; it’s a practical feature in casting, too. Hence one of the reasons why Cameron shot “Avatar: The Way Of Water,” “Avatar 3,” and part of the upcoming fourth film at the same time: he didn’t want young actor Jack Champion to have a growth spurt on him in between films.

Continue reading ‘Avatar’: James Cameron Shot Nearly 3 Films To Avoid The “’Stranger Things’ Effect” Of Teens Who “Look Like They’re 27” at The Playlist.

Netflix and The Duffer Brothers haven’t even hit the green light yet for “Stranger Things” Season 5, but fans can’t wait for the show’s fifth and final season. And after the thrilling conclusion of Season 4, the stakes against the citizens of Hawkins, Indiana, have never been higher. So, who will live and die in the final showdown against Vecna?

READ MORE: ‘Stranger Things’ Volume 2 Review: Season 4 Ends With A Bloated Bang

If Maya Hawke gets her way, then Robin Buckley is on the way out.

Continue reading Maya Hawke On ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5: “I Would Love To Die And Get My Hero’s Moment” at The Playlist.

When you look at the biggest franchises on TV and film, you wouldn’t be wrong to say that TV is dominated by “Stranger Things” and film is dominated by Marvel Studios. In the middle of both of those worlds rests filmmaker Shawn Levy, who is one of the producers of “Stranger Things” and the director of the upcoming “Deadpool 3.” And, apparently, the filmmaker is taking notes and trying to figure out how to bring those two worlds together. 

Speaking to Variety on the Emmys red carpet last night, Shawn Levy talked about his unique position as one of the filmmakers involved with both “Stranger Things” and the MCU.

Continue reading Shawn Levy Has Talked With Ryan Reynolds About A ‘Stranger Things’/’Deadpool’ Crossover at The Playlist.

Well, Netflix premiered the final two episodes of “Stranger Things” Season 4 last Friday, and now fans know what awaits Hawkins in the show’s fifth and final season. And fans also know who lived and died after this season’s battle against Vecna. (spoiler alert for those who haven’t finished watching yet!). Unfortunately, Joseph Quinn‘s metalhead Eddie Munson, leader of the Hellfire Club, went down swinging against Vecna’s bats.

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4: The Duffer Bros. Originally Planned To Kill Off Another Character at The Playlist.

Even though the world seems to be obsessed (once again) with “Stranger Things,” the Duffer Brothers aren’t only focused on where the kids of Hawkins will end up in Season 5. The co-creators of the “Stranger Things” universe are already planning a spinoff series, and they also are expanding outside of Hawkins for new series based on a Stephen King novel and an anime series. 

READ MORE: ‘Stranger Things’ Creators Tease “‘Return Of The King’-Ish” Series Finale With “Like Eight Endings”

According to Netflix, the Duffer Brothers have figured out their slate of projects that they’ll be working on over the next several years as part of their massive deal with the streaming service.

Continue reading The Duffer Brothers Partner With Netflix For Adaptations Of ‘Death Note’ & ‘The Talisman’ As Well As A ‘Stranger Things’ Play at The Playlist.

Even though there was an incredibly long wait between Seasons 3 and 4, “Stranger Things” returned this summer to record-breaking success on Netflix. Now, with Season 4 in the rearview, all the talk surrounds the upcoming fifth season, which is set to be the series’ last. And the Duffer Brothers, the creators of “Stranger Things,” are already teasing a finale that is going to be jam-packed with endings. 

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’ Creators Tease “‘Return Of The King’-Ish” Series Finale With “Like Eight Endings” at The Playlist.

Netflix is taking an internal look at its spending habits on content after multiple rounds of layoffs (L.A. Times reporting 300 employees were let go recently) and axing multiple animated projects such as the Ava DuVernay-produced “Wings of Fire.” With that in mind, they’ve been reportedly spending $30 million an episode on the fourth season of “Stranger Things” and will continue to spend more cash.

Continue reading Duffer Brothers Tease Secretive ‘Stranger Things’ Spinoff Is “Different Than What Anyone Is Expecting” at The Playlist.

This was not how my interview piece with Millie Bobby Brown was supposed to go. Not that Ms. Brown did anything wrong. In fact, she was delightful during our conversation earlier this week. Instead, after perhaps almost 100 previous successful recordings, we’re going to have to blame Zoom for not saving the recording. Thank you error 404. Yep, we’re going old, old school with the “Stranger Things” star, from our quickly scribbled notes afterward.

Continue reading Millie Bobby Brown Revisits Eleven’s Trauma In ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 at The Playlist.

Even though there was a huge delay between Seasons 3 and 4 of “Stranger Things,” the Duffer Brothers’ massively popular Netflix series returned in May and, once again, became a juggernaut for the streaming service. But the episodes that dropped several weeks ago aren’t the entire season, and two more, super-sized, episodes are on the way.

READ MORE: ‘Stranger Things’ Finally Returns With An Entertaining But Scattered Fourth Season [Review]

As seen in the trailer for “Stranger Things 4: Volume 2,” the series picks up right where the end of ‘Volume 1’ left off.

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things 4: Volume 2’ Trailer: The Duffer Brothers End The Season With 2 Huge Episodes at The Playlist.

“Stranger Things” just really loves its pastiche nostalgia. Season one felt like Amblin, the best of Steven Spielberg or “Goonies” with a sci-fi twist. Over the years, it’s morphed, and in this most recent iteration, the hit Netflix show seems to be taking its cues from ‘80s horror movies like “A Nightmare on Elm Street” and “Hellraiser,” which makes sense given the entire cast is growing up.

Continue reading ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 Vol. 2 Teaser Suggests You Can’t Stop What’s Coming at The Playlist.

“Stranger Things” creators, the Duffer Brothers, recently revealed their hit Netflix series wasn’t originally planned to go beyond one season. Four seasons later, and a fourth season cut into two parts, perhaps some of the cast is getting a little impatient too and perhaps thinks the cast has gotten too sprawling. In a recent interview, Eleven actress Millie Bobby Brown told The Wrap that the ensemble cast is “way too big” and someone needs to go.

Continue reading Millie Bobby Brown Jokes About The Massive ‘Stranger Things’ Cast: “You Need To Start Killing People Off” at The Playlist.