Exactly when Stranger Things season 4 releases is unknown, but it will likely be much later than fans initially expected. A third season of the beloved sci-fi series was released in July and it brought record-breaking viewership according to Netflix. Within the first week, the streaming service reported that more than 64 million households watched Stranger Things season 3, so it's understandable why they aren't ready to give up on the series.
The no-brainer decision to renew Stranger Things for season 4 was officially announced at the end of September. The announcement came in the form of a teaser trailer which viewers went crazy over based on the clues hidden within the footage. In addition to the renewal, Netflix shared that the show's creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, have signed a multi-year TV and film deal worth upwards of nine figures. If and when Stranger Things comes to an end, the Duffer Brothers will be sticking around for the long-term.
Since the Stranger Things renewal was made public, it has been revealed that season 4 will consist of eight episodes. This is on par with seasons 1 and 3, whereas season 2 had one extra episode. In addition, the filming for Stranger Things season 4 is scheduled to commence in January 2020 and will reportedly conclude in August, barring any unforeseen delays.
When Stranger Things Season 4 May Release
Stranger Things season 4 wrapping up filming in August likely knocks out any kind of holiday 2020 release, which many viewers had speculated. If anything, the production schedule hints at a spring 2021 release - or, more specifically, April 2021, which is later than many had hoped.
Why Stranger Things Season 4's Release Date Is So Far
The potential April 2021 release date for Stranger Things season 4 can be based on a number of factors. When looking back at the show's previous schedule, there was a 21-month gap between the debut of season 2 (October 2017) and season 3 (July 2019). An April release would put the gap between season 3 at exactly 21 months. As for a post-production timeline, season 3 premiered eight months after filming concluded. If filming does finish in August 2020, an April premiere fits that eight-month frame as well. Interestingly enough, Stranger Things has debuted a new installment in every season except for the spring, so season 4 could very well hit that span of time.
There have been a handful of fan theories that link Stranger Things season 4 to an April release date. One Redditor connected a photo of a prisoner with the number 403 seen in a set video as evidence that the season will drop on April 3. Others who believe that the Chernobyl disaster has something to do with the series are emphasizing the fact that the event took place in April 1986. The new season is said to be set in 1986 and, if it does focus on Chernobyl, a planned April release would not be out of the question.