Stranger Things season 5 is officially in production. Netflix announced the news with an image of the main cast for the final season of the series. There were a few surprises, though. A few cast members were included in that photo we weren't expecting to see, and there were also a few cast members we expecting or hoping to see who were not included in Stranger Things season 5.
With production on season 5 underway, there have also been some leaks from the set that cast doubt on the return of a few characters. It's not a major spoiler, but there might be some information about the new season some fans don't want to know.
We shared a list of six Stranger Things characters we aren't expecting to see in the final season of the series. Let's get the list started with one of the best characters in the series so far, Eddie Munson.
Eddie Munson
Look, when Eddie died in Stranger Things season 4, I was in favor of all the theories and possibilities for his return. I hate saying goodbye to great characters, and while I understand from a story perspective why Eddie had to die, I still hated it. I would have loved to see Eddie survive and be there for the final battle coming to Hawkins. There's a small chance that he could be if that's how the Duffer Brothers want to play it. There are many theories about Eddie's vampiric return online, but so far, Joseph Quinn has not been confirmed to return in season 5.
Quinn was absent from the main cast photo that Netflix shared to announce the start of production on season 5. There are a lot of cast members in season 5, and it's going to be very interesting to see how the Duffers and the writers have weaved this story to include such a massive cast and utilize each character to their full potential.
As it stands, there are also some spoiler pics circling on social media of Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) visiting the grave of one, Edward Munson. While it's not the final nail in the coffin on Eddie's return, it's close. The Duffers have discussed what happens when you kill off big characters. You have to honor that character in the story. Dustin changed after his interaction with Eddie, and now, Dustin, as a character, has to greive and go through the process of healing in the new season. So, that appears to be what's happening.
Unfortunately, it looks like Eddie will not be back in season 5.
Continue to the next slide for more Stranger Things characters who likely won't be back in season 5.
Argyle
Along with Joseph Quinn, Eduardo Franco was missing from the Stranger Things season 5 cast photo Netflix shared. Franco's exclusion is much more notable than Quinn's, though. At the end of season 4, Argyle made the cross country roadtrip with Eleven, Will, Mike, and Jonathan. He even drove them there in the Surfer Boy Pizza van!
In a video from the Steve Varley Show, Franco is asked if he's in season 5, and he mentions that he didn't get invited to be a part of the final season. Here's what Franco said:
"It’s nice to hear that there’s some sort of concern or something, you know what I mean, but I never got a phone call, so yeah, I think that's it. "
There's still a lot of time to bring back Franco and Argyle if the Duffer Brothers want. It sounds like Franco is open to returning, but it's all about how the character fits into the story. Maybe, with as many characters as there are in season 5, it's just not doable. We don't know.
If Franco has not been contacted yet, it is a bit concerning given the fact that the scripts are likely done. The Duffer Brothers usually write and rewrite as they go throughout production, but they've had a lot of time to get these scripts to where they want them, much more time than they had in the past between seasons, so we have to assume the scripts are done and Argyle will not be in season 5 at this point.
Dr. Martin Brenner
Dr. Martin Brenner, played by Matthew Modine, has been one of the most important characters in Stranger Things. It's safe to say that none of this ever happens without Dr. Brenner playing key roles in Henry Creel's story, Eleven's story, and Hawkins' story. I don't know if that's a good thing or a bad thing. Clearly, Dr. Brenner is not the best dude in Stranger Things, but he's far from the worst, right? I think so anyway.
In season 4, Dr. Brenner is killed after Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan's forces storm the compound where Dr. Brenner and Dr. Owens are trying to help restore Eleven's powers, which they eventually do. But is Brenner gone for good?
Modine told Radio Times that he's interested in returning as Brenner for the final season of Stranger Things, despite what happened in Stranger Things season 4. Modine even went as far as to say that he thinks there's a way Brenner isn't even dead.
Here's what he told Radio Times:
"Well we didn't really see him dead. He was just lying there in the dirt. He's survived the Demogorgon, he survived Vecna in episode 1 of season 4."
That's all well and good, and yes, there's a chance we could see Dr. Brenner return in Stranger Things season 5, but it's not looking good. Modine is not in the cast photo for season 5, and the character seemed very dead. Plus, I don't know if it truly fits the story to see Brenner return, although I would like to see him be take on Vecna and sacrifice himself for Eleven. That's one thing I would be interested in.
Suzie
Dustin's girlfriend, Suzie (Gabriela Pizzolo), has saved the day twice in Stranger Things, despite criticism that she's the reason Hopper "died" and was taken to Russia. In the third season of the series, she gives Dustin and the team Planck's constant, which was the password to shut down the machine opening a hole into the Upside Down. In the fourth season, Suzie helps Mike, Jonathan, Will, and Argyle use the internet to find Eleven.
So, there's a chance that we could see Suzie in Stranger Things season 5, but it feels like the joke of Suzie parachuting in to save the day is over. I don't see that happening in season 5, especially with what happened in season 4 with her boy gang visiting her in Salt Lake City.
Pizzolo is fantastic in this role, especially in "The NeverEnding Story" duet with Dustin during literally the most important time of season 3. It would be great if they could work Suzie back into the fold for the final season, but Pizzolo was not in the photo of the main cast. After appearing in limited roles in the last two seasons, we would imagine Pizzolo would be added as a recurring cast member for season 5 if they were returning as Suzie.
The verdict is still out, but we're not expecting to see Suzie in Stranger Things season 5.
Kali
Before the premiere of Stranger Things season 4, it seemed highly likely that Kali, also known as Eight, Eleven's older "sister," would make an appearance. Yes, we did get a look at Kali when she was younger in the Hawkins National Lab and Rainbow Room, but I was fully expecting Linnea Berthelsen would be back as Kali in the fight against Vecna in season 4. That didn't happen, and now, I'm starting to seriously wonder if that story is going anywhere.
Based on Berthelsen not appearing in the season 5 cast photo, we have to assume Kali will not be back in the new season. As mentioned, there is so much to tie up in the new season. The Duffer Brothers have already discussed how much of a challenge it's going to be to stick the landing. Giving precious screen time to characters who were only relevant for such small parts of this story seems like a mistake. I don't think that will happen, and that's the main reason I think Kali isn't going to be a part of Stranger Things season 5.
I have a lot of questions about that storyline. Personally, I think it works well with Eleven's motivations. Eleven was given the opportunity to take her revenge, and she didn't want it. She chose her new friends and family instead, and that's important for any character who wields the power that Eleven does. It's a slippery slope, as we've seen with Henry Creel and Vecna.
I have to wonder if there was a plan to bring Kali in for season 4 or season 5 as more of this story unfolded. The Duffer Brothers and the creative team falls into the trap of creating characters that are too good and lovable. It has to be much more fun to continue to build those characters rather than kill them off, and that's probably one of the reasons the cast that started so small now has about 20 people involved in every aspect of the story heading into the final season.
Dimitri
Dimitri, played by Tom Wlaschiha, is an important part of Stranger Things season 4. He befriends Hopper, sort of, and then, after their plot to sneak Hopper out of the prison is discovered, Dimitri and Hopper lean on each other to survive the Demogorgon pit.
Like all of the other characters on this list, Wlaschiha is missing from the main cast photo for season 5, which isn't a good sign that we'll see him in a big role. At the end of season 4, Dimitri didn't take the trip to Hawkins with Hopper, Murray, and Joyce. We don't know what exactly happened to the Russian, but he's been through a lot. Coming to America to stop an interdimensional monster like Vecna seems like a bad time.
Again, there are so many characters who will play integral roles in the final season. It would be great to see Dimitri again, but unless we're going back to Russia in season 4, which shouldn't happen, he probably won't be in the new season.
So, that's the list of characters we aren't expecting to see in Stranger Things season 5. It's definitely going to be weird without a few of them, namely Eddie Munson, Argyle, and Dr. Brenner. Argyle is the one I'm most surprised to see left out, but it probably makes sense when you think about how many characters there will be in the final season.
Stay tuned for more news about Stranger Things season 5!