Even Stranger Things is not immune to the coronavirus, as the production on season 4 of the Netflix series has officially been delayed due to the global pandemic. The show - one of the most successful Netflix has ever produced - was just entering the production phase for the newest season, just months after season 3 was met with critical acclaim upon release. The quick move to film the next season was seen as a positive sign that fans wouldn't have to wait so long for new episodes, but the crisis surrounding COVID-19 has hampered those beliefs.

The third season of Stranger Things was released on Independence Day, 2019, recording record viewership for the streaming service. When a teaser for the newest season was released a month ago, it came with the information that the new season was expected to come in 2020, almost guaranteeing the shortest wait between seasons for the show. Sadly, the coronavirus does not discriminate, and Netflix wanted to take no chances with the safety of its cast and crew.

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Deadline confirmed that production on season 4 of Stranger Things was being halted due to the coronavirus pandemic. Other outlets have added to Deadline's report, sharing the delay would last for at least two weeks and would not begin until Monday, March 16. This falls in line with Netflix's shows and movies across the United States and Canada, which are all facing similar production delays as the company tries to look out for the safety of all involved.

David Harbour as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things 4

A good amount of information, from casting to production, is known about the fourth season of Stranger Things. For starters, the production left the comfortable confines of Atlanta for the first time in the series' history, with shooting set to take place in New Mexico instead. A table read had even occurred, creating palpable buzz for the direction of the show. There have also been several cast promotions within their ranks, with Priah Ferguson (who plays Erica Sinclair) and Brett Gelman (Murray Bauman) becoming series regulars for the new season.

Stranger Things is one of many shows impacted by the coronavirus pandemic, both at Netflix and across the television landscape - in fact, it's becoming harder to name shows that aren't affected than naming shows that are. The safety of the population as the COVID-19 situation continues to develop is of the utmost importance. But it's also okay to be bummed that Stranger Things may be forced to delay a new season because of the virus.

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Source: Deadline