Stranger Things star David Harbour says that season 3 of the hit Netflix series probably won't arrive until sometime in 2019. It's safe to say that Stranger Things fans were hoping to take their third trip to 1980s Hawkins, Indiana no later than 2018. After all, that would fit the one season per year scheduling of both Stranger Things seasons 1 and 2 and most other Netflix original programs. Sadly, it looks like the entire calendar year of 2018 might well go by without another venture into the Upside Down.
While opinions differ on whether or not this fall's Stranger Things 2 lived up to its progenitor - which was itself a huge hit with both critics and general audiences - the general belief seems to be that season 2 was in itself a worthwhile sequel, and by no means a sign that the series should quit while it's ahead. Thus, as Stranger Things season 2 was arguably the biggest TV event of 2017, season 3 will quite likely be the most anticipated premiere of whatever year it ends up airing in.
Related: Stranger Things Season 3 Officially Confirmed By Netflix
During a recent chat with Variety, David Harbour dropped the sad bombshell that it looks like Stranger Things 3 won't be debuting until 2019. While some had speculated that this might be a possibility - after all, while seasons 1 and 2 technically came out in back to back calendar years, it took a whole 15 months for the latter to arrive - it's the first public confirmation of the delay from anyone associated with Stranger Things. Here's Harbour's full quote:
"I mean, one of the things that’s annoying for fans is that it takes us a long time to do them. Like, you probably won’t get [Season 3] until sometime in 2019. But also part of the thing is, like any good thing, they need time. And those guys work so hard. I mean, they just sit in their apartment and write for 12, 14 hours a day.”
While diehard Stranger Things fans are unlikely to contest the idea that whatever lengthy writing process the Duffers and company have is working for the series so far, it's definitely never fun to find out that something one is really looking forward to has been placed further out of reach. At least - based on past results - it's likely that the final product of Stranger Things season 3 will be very much worth watching.
If Stranger Things 3 does indeed take until 2019 to premiere on Netflix, it'll continue what is already sure to be a big year in Harbour's career, as the actor is set to star in director Neil Marshall's reboot of the Hellboy franchise. That film hits theaters on January 11, and early images of Harbour as the titular character have generated positive buzz. Depending on the threats on deck for season 3 though, Hawkins may very well wish Harbour was bringing Hellboy with him, as they might well need his help.
More: Stranger Things: 15 Things You Never Knew About The Upside Down
Stranger Things season 3 looks likely to arrive in 2019.
Source: Variety