With news of the writers strike ending three weeks ago, scripted shows have begun to make progress while the actors are still striking. Netflix’s Stranger Things received a filming update from Shawn Levy (Deadpool 3), producer and occasional director of the show. With the resumption of work happening in the writers room for season five of the show, Levy recently spoke with The Wrap, providing details on the movement of the fifth season. Via Screenrant, Levy told The Wrap, “I can say that we are hoping to start filming as soon as possible… Everyone not only needs to get back to work because we have many hundreds of crew members who have not been able to make a living since the strikes began, but we will be shooting very shortly after the actors’ strike ends.”
Following the reached tentative deal between the WGA and AMPTP, the Stranger Things writers posted to X (formerly known as Twitter) the exciting message to fans, “We’re back”. According to Screenrant, Netflix is planning to prioritize the filming of Stranger Things once the actors’ strike ends. Levy announced with confidence that shooting will begin quickly after the SAG-AFTRA strike ends, although no one can say for sure when that will be. The last meeting between SAG-AFTRA and AMPTP took place on October 11, which resulted in a stalemate between both sides.
Season four of Stranger Things included some viral moments that took the internet, specifically TikTok, by storm. The song Running Up That Hill, by Kate Bush, was heavily played in the show. The song from 1985 re-entered the streaming charts after being featured in the show. Characters Eddie Munson played by Joseph Quinn (Game of Thrones), and Chrissy Cunningham played by Grace Van Dien (Lady Driver), were popular Halloween costumes in 2022.
In season four of Stranger Things, The Upside Down, as friends Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas, and Max call it, begins to engulf their town of Hawkins, Indiana. The Upside Down is riddled with monstrous creatures, including Vecna, the main antagonist who fans learn had complicated past with Eleven. Back in August, the Duffer brothers announced that Will Byers, played by Noah Schnapp (The Tutor), will take center stage in season five. In season one, Will was rescued from the Upside Down and struggled to fit back in with his friends following his return to Hawkins. Will experienced nightmares and visions of the horrible place he once spent months in. Ross Duffer (Hidden), said to Variety, “This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together. Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality — it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.”