Matt and Ross Duffer are saying goodbye to Stranger Things and moving their entire operation to Paramount – and they’re spilling serious secrets about season 5’s tearful finale in the process.
Final Season
Stranger Things season 5 wraps the series with nine episodes that the Duffers call “our Return of the King.” They shot for nearly 14 months, creating the most ambitious season yet with significant time jumps and major character deaths.
“We cried filming the finale,” Ross admitted during our exclusive interview. “Not just because it’s ending, but because of what happens to certain characters. It’s devastating.”
The season picks up after the events of season 4’s climactic battle, with Hawkins fully merged with the Upside Down. The military has quarantined the entire town, forcing our heroes to operate as outlaws while fighting Vecna’s forces.
Character
Here’s what the Duffers revealed – not all the main characters survive season 5. “We’ve been building to these deaths since season one,” Matt explained. “They’re not shock value. They’re emotionally earned.”
Eleven’s powers have completely transformed after her battle with Vecna. The Duffers wouldn’t specify how, but they hinted that she’s operating on a different level entirely. “Think avatar rather than superhero,” Ross suggested cryptically.
Mike and Eleven’s relationship faces its biggest challenge yet. The time jump means they’ve been apart for months, with Mike believing El might be dead. Their reunion apparently includes a scene that destroyed test audiences emotionally.
Production
Stranger Things season 5 required massive set construction recreating destroyed Hawkins. The Duffers built entire town blocks showing the Upside Down’s corruption spreading through suburban America. “It’s beautiful and horrifying,” Matt said.
The budget ballooned to nearly $30 million per episode, making it Netflix’s most expensive series ever. But the Duffers insist every dollar shows on screen. “We’re not making Marvel movie,” Ross noted. “But we’re giving theatrical quality television.”
Several new characters join the final season, including some familiar faces from earlier years. The Duffers confirm Dr. Brenner appears in flashbacks, along with other surprising returns they refuse to spoil.
Netflix
The shocking news – the Duffers signed a massive overall deal with Paramount+ after Stranger Things ends. “Netflix was home for nearly a decade,” Matt explained. “But Paramount offered complete creative freedom for our next chapter.”
Their Paramount deal includes multiple series in development, starting with a supernatural thriller and a sci-fi epic. Both projects are creator-owned, giving the Duffers unprecedented control.
The split from Netflix appears amicable, with both sides praising their collaboration. But industry insiders suggest the Duffers wanted ownership stakes that Netflix wouldn’t provide.
Farewell
“Stranger Things changed our lives,” Ross said. “Saying goodbye is harder than we imagined. But we’re telling the exact story we planned from the beginning.”
The finale apparently includes a time jump epilogue showing where surviving characters end up. The Duffers promise closure while leaving room for viewers’ imagination about future lives.
Whether Netflix will continue the Stranger Things universe with spinoffs remains unclear. The Duffers have ideas but won’t be involved, preferring to let their story stand complete.
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