Stranger Things Creators Fear Season 5 May Face Game of Thrones-Style Backlash

Ending a beloved series is a significant challenge, particularly for shows like Stranger Things. Recently, Finn Wolfhard, who plays a lead role, expressed concerns from the production team about potential backlash similar to that experienced by HBO’s Game of Thrones. In a feature story with Time magazine, he stated, “We hope to not have that kind of thing happen.”

Stranger Things Season 5 Concerns

Wolfhard reflected on the intense scrutiny that Game of Thrones faced after its final season. The creators of Stranger Things are also aware that fan expectations are high. However, after reading the scripts for the upcoming season, he felt reassured about the show’s quality.

Production and Budget Details

Stranger Things made significant investments in its production. The fourth season, which premiered three years ago, was one of television’s most expensive, with an estimated budget of $30 million per episode.

• Fourth Season Budget: Approximately $30 million per episode.
• Final Season Budget: Expected to be between $50 million and $60 million per episode.

Co-creator Ross Duffer noted the relief the team felt when season four received strong viewership. Duffer expressed, “You don’t want to scale down for your final season.” The team is keenly aware that variety in the final episodes is critical to satisfying the audience.

Franchise Expansion

As the final season approaches, discussions about expanding the franchise have emerged. Co-creator Matt Duffer is somewhat surprised at the lack of pressure from Netflix to produce a direct sequel. He mentioned, “They would love us to go in and pitch it,” indicating that the streaming platform remains open to future projects.

Netflix Chief Bela Bajaria echoed this sentiment by stating, “When they’re ready, I’m ready.” The company appears to prioritize keeping any sequel plans under wraps until after the final season airs.

Unique Release Strategy

Stranger Things’ final season will feature a special release strategy aimed at enhancing holiday viewership. Netflix plans to release:

• Four episodes on the day before Thanksgiving.
• Three episodes on Christmas.
• A movie-length series finale on New Year’s Eve.

This strategy aims to capture the holiday season and maximize audience engagement for the show’s concluding chapters. As excitement builds for the finale, fans remain hopeful that Stranger Things will meet their expectations and avoid the pitfalls of its forerunner.