Get ready to say goodbye to Hawkins, but not to the Upside Down’s chilling legacy. After a three-year hiatus, Stranger Things is back for its fifth and final season on Netflix, and the stakes have never been higher. Set 18 months after the jaw-dropping events of Season 4, the small town of Hawkins, Indiana, is under military lockdown as the Upside Down and the real world collide in a battle for humanity’s survival. But here’s where it gets controversial: can the gang truly defeat Vecna, or is this just the beginning of a darker chapter?
The beloved cast is returning for one last hurrah, including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, and more. Joining them are new faces like Nell Fisher, Linda Hamilton, Alex Breaux, and Jake Connelly, adding fresh dynamics to the final showdown.
But don’t despair—the Stranger Things universe isn’t disappearing anytime soon. An animated spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, is set to release next year, bridging the gap between Seasons 2 and 3. Plus, the hit Broadway show, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, dives into Vecna’s origins in 1959, featuring younger versions of the adult cast. And this is the part most people miss: the show’s impact extends far beyond the screen, with its characters and stories becoming cultural phenomena.
Below is your ultimate guide to the cast of Season 5, their journeys since the show began nine years ago, and what they’ve been up to outside of Hawkins.
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown)
The heart of Stranger Things, Eleven, is a telepathic and psychokinetic test subject who escapes Hawkins National Laboratory and finds a family in the town. Adopted by Hopper, she becomes Jane and tries to live a normal life—though normal is a relative term in Hawkins. Outside the show, Brown has dominated the big screen with roles in the Enola Holmes franchise, Godzilla films, and The Electric State. In 2024, she married Jake Bongiovi, son of Jon Bon Jovi, and the couple welcomed an adopted daughter in 2025.
Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard)
Mike, the middle child of the Wheeler family, is a leader among the Hawkins gang and Eleven’s romantic partner. Wolfhard has stepped behind the camera, co-directing and co-writing Hell of a Summer, and starred in projects like Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio and The Legend of Ochi.
Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo)
Dustin, the self-proclaimed Dungeons & Dragons expert, is always ready with a plan—or a witty one-liner. Matarazzo has lent his voice to Lego Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy and Angry Birds 2, and starred in the 2023 revival of Sweeney Todd. He also hosted the prank show Prank Encounters for two seasons.
Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin)
Lucas, an original member of the gang and Max’s on-again, off-again love interest, briefly joined the Hawkins High basketball team in Season 4 but returned to his friends in time to face Vecna. McLaughlin has starred in High Flying Bird, Concrete Cowboy, and The Book of Clarence, among others.
Will Byers (Noah Schnapp)
Will’s disappearance kicked off the entire series, and his connection to the Upside Down has haunted him ever since. Schnapp, the youngest member of the main cast, has grown up with the show and appeared in Hubie Halloween and Waiting for Anya.
Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink)
Max, introduced in Season 2, became a fan favorite for her bravery and wit. Her relationship with Lucas has had its ups and downs, but her role in defeating Vecna in Season 4 came at a high cost—she’s now comatose, her mind split between worlds. Sink will star in Spider-Man: Brand New Day and has appeared in The Whale and Taylor Swift’s All Too Well short film.
Steve Harrington (Joe Keery)
Steve, the former high school heartthrob, has evolved into the group’s unofficial babysitter and protector. Keery has starred in Fargo, Molly’s Game, and Free Guy, and launched a music career under the name Djo, releasing albums like The Crux in 2025.
Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke)
Robin, Steve’s witty and multilingual co-worker, came out as a lesbian in Season 3, adding depth to her character. Hawke, daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, has starred in Once Upon a Time in Hollywood and Do Revenge, and voiced Anxiety in Inside Out 2.
Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder)
Joyce, Will’s fiercely protective mother, has been at the center of Hawkins’ battles against the Upside Down. Ryder reprised her role as Lydia Deetz in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Jim Hopper (David Harbour)
Hopper, the gruff yet caring chief of police, becomes Eleven’s father figure and Joyce’s love interest. Harbour has starred in Black Widow, Hellboy, and Gran Turismo.
Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer)
Nancy, Mike’s older sister, is a determined investigator caught in a love triangle with Jonathan and Steve. Dyer has appeared in Velvet Buzzsaw and Based on a True Story.
Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton)
Jonathan, Will’s protective brother and Nancy’s boyfriend, has struggled with his emotions and relationships. Heaton has starred in New Mutants and The Souvenir Part II.
Erica Sinclair (Priah Ferguson)
Erica, Lucas’ younger sister, went from sassy sidekick to unlikely hero. Ferguson has starred in The Curse of Bridge Hollow and voiced characters in Hamster & Gretel.
Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower)
Vecna, the series’ primary villain, is a former test subject with a dark past tied to Eleven. Bower has appeared in Horizon: An American Saga and will join The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He also formed the band Blood Magic, releasing Death / Rebirth in 2024.
Murray Bauman (Brett Gelman)
Murray, a conspiracy theorist and private investigator, aids the gang in their fight against the Upside Down. Gelman recently starred in Lady in the Lake and voiced characters in I Heart Arlo.
As we prepare for the final season, one question lingers: will the gang truly save humanity, or is the Upside Down’s influence too deep? Share your thoughts in the comments—do you think Vecna’s defeat is final, or is there more to the story?
