Stranger Things showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer give an update on the long-awaited season 4 and apologize for how long it is taking. When Netflix's '80s-set sensation last dropped new episodes, the young heroes of Hawkins had once again successfully prevented the Upside Down from taking over their town. Unfortunately, the victory wasn't without sacrifice, as Jim Hopper (David Harbour) seemingly perished during the climax. It has since been revealed that Hopper is alive, if not wholly well, as he is now being held in a Russian prison.
Fans have eagerly anticipated Stranger Things season 4 since season 3 premiered in 2019. Though the original plan was to have the series return in early 2021, production delays caused by the coronavirus pandemic have pushed back season 4 considerably. The last major update about Stranger Things' season 4 premiere came from star Finn Wolfhard, who warned fans that it might not arrive until 2022. Netflix has also remained mum about when to expect a return to Hawkins, even despite confirming late 2021 returns for shows like The Witcher and Cobra Kai.
Now fans have another update regarding Stranger Things season 4. As part of Netflix's Geeked Week, the Duffer brothers addressed fans in a video posted to social media. The two filmed the segment on Stranger Things' set, indicating work is still ongoing. "We're sorry it's taking so long to get to you," Ross said, "but everyone here is working really, really hard on this show, and we can't wait for you to see it." The rest of the video sees the Duffers introduce newcomer Amybeth McNulty, who plays Vicki in season 4.
Stranger Things season 4 has so far been touted as a darker, more mature direction for the series, and numerous new cast members have been added to the show, including horror legend Robert Englund. It isn't clear as to how much of the season still needs to be filmed; in March, Gaten Matarazzo warned things were far from done. Now that a few more months have passed, Stranger Things season 4 might be nearing its end. If that is the case, a late 2021 premiere isn't out of the question. However, if there is still much more left to shoot, Wolfhard's 2022 prediction might not be too far off base.
Though the coronavirus pandemic is definitely a major reason why Stranger Things season 4 has been delayed, it also stands to reason that this will be the show's most ambitious run yet. Between the ever-growing cast list and the scarier tone, Stranger Things is setting itself up for an epic batch of episodes. Expectations are already high, so perhaps it's a good thing that season 4 is taking so long to be completed. This way, the Duffers and their team can take their time to perfect the episodes. Hopefully, this long wait will be worth it in the end.
Source: Netflix Geeked/Twitter