Stranger Things season 4 still has a great deal of filming to do once it resumes production. The highly-anticipated fourth season of the hit Netflix show had only recently begun production when it was forced to stop due to concerns over the coronavirus outbreak. Netflix shut down all of its productions in the U.S. and Canada last week, with some U.K. shows following suit later. They are just a handful of the number of film and television productions that have been brought to a halt because of the coronavirus pandemic, which continues to grow with each passing day and present new challenges for the entertainment industry.
Since the arrival of Stranger Things season 4 is still a ways off, many details have been kept under wraps. However, fans were surprised when one of the biggest questions going into the next season was answered before an official release date could even be assigned: Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is alive, though not well. A short teaser released last month confirmed everyone's favorite grumpy sheriff somehow survived the explosion at the end of the third season, but now he's being held in a Russian prison. Exactly how he'll escape is unclear, though it's almost certain that he will be escaping at some point.
However, fans will likely have to wait longer than expected before seeing it all unfold. Variety reported that when Stranger Things' production delay was called, the cast and crew were only one month into filming. By comparison, the third season filmed from April to November in 2018. That's a total of seven months. Variety also noted that, due to the size and scope of a production like Stranger Things, the delay was a particularly difficult decision, and one that was disappointing for the cast and crew. Producer Shawn Levy explained that it was a "bittersweet moment" for them all because of how close they've gotten over the years.
While there was a chance the fourth season of Stranger Things could arrive this year, it now seems more likely that it will get pushed to 2021. As of right now, the shutdown is only expected to last two weeks, which could help put them back on schedule. However, if the situation worsens, there might be no choice for Netflix to continue to delay production, thus pushing the show back. Levy is still optimistic, saying fans should "be hopeful that if everyone does follow protocols and these distancing strategies, with commitment, in the short term, we can avoid the ramifications becoming long term."
At the present moment, it's very hard to say what will happen in the future, but it's good that the Stranger Things cast and crew are taking necessary precautions to ensure their health and safety. Obviously fans want to see the fourth season sooner rather than later, but this is an extremely difficult situation that nobody can predict. Fans can at least rest assured that when the delay is up, Stranger Things will hit the ground running, and then everyone will be closer to finding out if Will might ever get a different haircut.
Source: Variety