After sharing a teaser trailer confirming Jim Hopper's survival, the writers of Stranger Things used social media to hint at the character's next arc with the use of movie titles. The character, played by David Harbour, was presumably killed off at the end of season 3 after a heroic act. With the speculation surrounding the Stranger Things season 3 credits scene and hints from the cast, Hopper's survival became the show's worst kept secret.
To celebrate Valentine's Day, Stranger Things released brand new footage revealing that Hopper did survive the explosion of the machine underneath Starcourt Mall. Not only did he live, but he also wound up in the hands of the Russians and is currently imprisoned in their frigid tundra. Hopper, now bald, is shown working alongside other captives in a chain gang. With armed Russian guards keeping watch (including a surprise appearance by Game of Thrones' Tom Wlaschiha as one of the prison guards), the men are working on laying down tracks for the railroad.
The big teaser was also accompanied by a synopsis, shedding light on the fact that Hopper will be facing threats in Russia that aren't necessarily human. In addition to the season 4 description, the official Twitter account run by the Stranger Things writers got in on the fun by expanding their "Video Store Friday" campaign. As a link to Robin and Steve's new gig at the video store, the account started sharing five movie titles each Friday connecting to the plot of the upcoming season. To coincide with the Hopper teaser, the movie titles hold many clues into his arc and how it will heavily focus on his escape from captivity.
How Movie Titles Hint At Hopper's Escape In Stranger Things Season 4
The five movie titles connected to Hopper's teaser set in Russia include I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang, Papillon, The Great Escape, Stalag 17, and The Shawshank Redemption. Each film on that list involved some sort of prison escape, so viewers will undoubtedly see Hopper go in that direction. Stranger Things season 4, which is rumored to feature nine episodes, is no longer assumed to investigate Hopper's whereabouts, but instead, how he escapes from his current situation in Russia and what kind of intelligence he finds out along the way.
I Am a Fugitive from a Chain Gang directly related to Hopper in an actual chain gang in the teaser footage. The others like The Great Escape and The Shawshank Redemption are self-explanatory in that a major elaborate escape plan will take place. Based on the plots of the fellow movies, Hopper's arc could involve traitors, getting help from unlikely allies, and the mental distress that comes with being in POW camps. Even though Stranger Things didn't spend much time trying to convince viewers that Hopper was truly dead, there's still plenty of mysteries centering on his current situation. With no word on a season 4 release date just yet, viewers have no choice but to pass the time by creating new theories and speculations.