The conclusion of Stranger Things resolved many of the major plot points over its five seasons, but it wasn’t completely definitive. A prime example is Eleven’s fate – the show offered one ending, but Mike’s surprising revelation in the finale suggests another possibility. The creators, the Duffer Brothers, know the actual truth behind the events, and they’ve now shared who else is in on the real ending.
During an interview with Josh Horowitz, Matt and Ross Duffer were asked if they knew how Eleven’s story would end. They revealed that they, and recently Millie Bobby Brown, are the only ones who know the final outcome. Matt explained that sharing their intentions while writing would diminish the impact of the ending, so they’ve kept it a secret.
Matt explained they had just told her, mentioning, “We were actually texting with her about 30 minutes ago.” He also said that Millie had promised to keep the ending a secret.
Why Did The Duffer Brothers Keep Eleven’s Stranger Things Ending Secret?
The showrunners are deliberately keeping Eleven’s ultimate fate ambiguous, and they’ve included enough clues throughout the series to support multiple interpretations of her ending.
Matt explained they deliberately made the scene open to interpretation. The goal was to put the viewers in the same position as the characters – left to decide for themselves what to believe, as there’s evidence supporting multiple possibilities. That was the intention behind the scene.
As a film buff, one thing I always found interesting about Eleven was how she embodied the fantastical side of the show – all the superpowers, the Upside Down, the creatures… she was that magic. It felt like, if she were real within that world, she’d naturally be part of all that wonder. And for the Duffer Brothers, that fantastical element really represented childhood and imagination. Seeing her potentially leave Hawkins felt like watching those kids close the door on that part of their lives as they grew up, letting go of that wonder and moving into adulthood.
Finding a believable and satisfying conclusion for Eleven’s story proved difficult. The creators discussed how she could realistically continue living in the world, and this debate played out among the characters throughout the season. They struggled with the idea of a truly happy ending – one where she and Mike were happily married with a normal life, and the government had left them alone, closing down the lab and its experiments. Ultimately, they couldn’t find a way to make that scenario feel genuine.
We really care about Eleven, but Hopper has a strong, understandable perspective too. That’s why we introduced Kali to show one side of the issue and Hopper to represent the other. The big question was whether Eleven could find a middle ground, and ultimately, Mike believes she does. It’s up to the viewers to decide if they agree with that choice, and we enjoy letting them interpret it for themselves.
Stranger Things is streaming on Netflix.
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2026-01-06 07:10