'STRANGER THINGS' SEASON 5 REACHES A PRODUCTION MILESTONE

Production on the final season of 'Stranger Things' has reached its halfway point after 24 weeks of filming. Despite previous delays caused by strikes, the team is making steady progress, and the new season remains on track. This fifth season will consist of eight shorter episodes and is expected to take about a year to complete.

Ross Duffer, co-creator of 'Stranger Things,' has been keeping fans informed about the progress of Season 5 through his Instagram account. Recently, he shared a photo of the cast and crew with the caption, "Week 24. Happy halfway to the best cast and crew ever." The post included an image of Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler, celebrating the milestone by dropping a marble into a jar.

The production of Season 5 faced setbacks due to the Writers Guild of America (WGA) and Screen Actors Guild (SAG) strikes in 2023. Similarly, Season 4 experienced delays and was eventually released in two parts in 2022. After the strikes ended in late 2023, production for the new season began in January 2024, with filming officially starting on January 8, 2024.

Maya Hawke, who joined the show in Season 3 as Robin, provided updates about the production during an appearance on the podcast 'Podcrushed.' She humorously noted that the series seems a bit cursed due to the numerous delays. Robin's character works with Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery, at the Scoops Ahoy ice cream shop in the Starcourt Mall.

The Duffer Brothers have revealed that the episodes in Season 5 will be shorter than those in Season 4. They discussed this detail on the 'Happy Sad Confused' podcast. According to Maya Hawke, the final season, which will have eight episodes, is projected to take about a year to finish. The series was renewed for its fifth and final season in February 2022.

Fans are eagerly awaiting the conclusion of this beloved series, and the production team is working hard to deliver a satisfying finale. As filming continues, more updates are expected to be shared, keeping the anticipation high for the premiere of 'Stranger Things' Season 5.