Warning: This article contains spoilers for Stranger Things season 4
Prior to its May 27 release date, Robert Englund accidentally revealed some Stranger Things season 4 spoilers. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Stranger Things saw a series of delays, leaving a three-year hiatus between seasons 3 and 4. This gave fans bountiful time to theorize about the upcoming storyline, and while most of the plot details were kept secret, each new image and piece of information released by the Stranger Things cast and crew gave fans something to speculate about.
On top of that, Stranger Things season 4 is being released in two parts, as executive producer Shawn Levy explained that they needed more time to complete the last two episodes but didn't want to make fans wait for the first seven. This delay heightened the potential for spoilers, and the cast were once again placed in the difficult position of promoting a series they can't really talk about. This was also true for Freddy Krueger actor Englund, who joined Stranger Things season 4 in a small role but crucial role that nods to his status as an '80s horror legend.
As it turns out, Englund wasn't ready to field some of the questions that come with being in Stranger Things, and accidentally revealed more than he should have. Englund tells The Guardian that he assumed the information was already made public, since fans were being so specific in their line of questioning. Unfortunately for the actor, this was not true, and he quickly found himself in trouble for giving away Stranger Things secrets. Read his full quote below:
This season is a homage to '80s horror. I think it’s their scariest season. I come in around episode four. When Covid hit, I was doing some personal appearances and some Stranger Things fans were asking me such specific questions that I just assumed that other actors had already talked about it. So I had my hands slapped for that.
Stranger Things takes inspiration from classic '80s movies like the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise and Stephen King’s IT. As the series has progressed into darker themes, the influence of these classic horrors has become more prominent, especially with the notable inclusion of Englund, infamous for his role as Freddy Krueger. Englund plays Victor Creel in Stranger Things season 4, and given his history of playing villains, it was initially theorized that he would be playing the season’s big bad. While he does have a frightening legacy in Hawkins, he’s not what threatens the Stranger Things characters. Season 4 instead saw Englund playing one of Vecna’s first human victims. While he remained alive, he was left to mourn the loss of his wife and children, after being wrongfully found guilty of their murders.
It's reported that the actor would only feature in one episode, so with the completion of episode 4 “Chapter Four: Dear Billy”, it seems like Englund’s time on Stranger Things has come to an end. That being said, with two episodes left, there are still plenty of chances to get new insight into his character, especially after the revelation that he is related to Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). After season 4 volume 1’s conclusion, fans fortunately won’t have to wait long for more, as Stranger Things returns for season 4 part 2 on July 1.
Source: The Guardian