Stranger Things Season 5: All the Confirmed New & Returning Cast & Characters

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Season 5 of Stranger Things will feature both returning favorites and some new faces. The Duffer brothers, in an interview with SFX Magazine, admitted they carefully considered adding new characters, wanting to stay focused on the main ones. Matt Duffer explained that these new additions are important to the story and their purpose will become clear as the season unfolds.

There’s a lot riding on the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. It needs to deliver a satisfying conclusion to ten years of stories, giving each character a proper ending. Although an animated spin-off is planned, Season 5 will be the last of the main show. Here’s an update on which actors and characters are returning.

Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna

Okay, so Season 4 of Stranger Things really played its cards close to the chest with Vecna – they really didn’t want you to know who was under all that makeup! Turns out, he’s been the big bad all along, and it’s a genuinely shocking reveal. Vecna is essentially a dark reflection of Eleven, and he’s fully in charge of the Upside Down, now using it to attack our world. The actor bringing this terrifying villain to life is Jamie Campbell Bower, and let me tell you, the makeup team had their work cut out for them – he’s almost unrecognizable!

Also seen in:

  • Camelot
  • The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones
  • Will

Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven

Millie Bobby Brown’s big break came with the hit show Stranger Things. She was just 12 when she first played the character Eleven, a girl with incredible psychic and movement abilities, and quickly became famous. As the show ends with its final season, Eleven has her powers back – and they’re even stronger than before. Everything is leading to a final showdown between Eleven and Vecna, two people who grew up in the town of Hawkins.

Also seen in:

  • Enola Holmes
  • Godzilla: King of the Monsters
  • Damsel

Noah Schnapp as Will Byers

Noah Schnapp started his acting career by voicing Charlie Brown in the 2015 film The Peanuts Movie, but he became widely known for his role in Stranger Things. He’s also gained a large following online, with over 4.5 million subscribers on YouTube. His character, Will Byers, first became famous for disappearing in the first season, and has since become a central figure in the show, connected to a strange psychic link with the Upside Down. Many believe Will will be a key character in the fifth season of Stranger Things, continuing his personal journey alongside the show’s larger, supernatural storyline.

Also seen in:

  • The Peanuts Movie
  • We Only Know So Much
  • The Tutor

Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler

Finn Wolfhard, originally from Vancouver, Canada, is famous for his role as Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things. As a natural leader among his friends, Mike developed a strong connection with Eleven, and their childhood crush has grown into a romantic relationship. While he’s still learning to manage his emotions, Mike showed significant growth in season four and is now better equipped to support Eleven as they face their biggest challenges.

Also seen in:

  • It
  • Ghostbusters: Afterlife
  • Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio

Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson

Gaten Matarazzo, an Italian-American actor, began his career on the Broadway stage before achieving worldwide recognition for his role in Stranger Things. He has a rare genetic condition called cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), which affects the development of bones and teeth, and the show has incorporated this into his character, Dustin’s, storyline. Dustin, known as one of the most loyal and brave kids in Hawkins, has had to mature quickly following the loss of his friend, Eddie, at the end of Season 4. Stranger Things frequently explores the effects of traumatic experiences, and this is expected to be a central focus in the upcoming Season 5.

Also seen in:

  • Waffles + Mochi
  • Please Don’t Destroy: The Treasure of Foggy Mountain
  • LEGO Star Wars: Rebuild the Galaxy

Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair

Caleb McLaughlin, one of the original young stars of Stranger Things, is a talented actor, singer, and dancer with training in ballet, tap, and various dance styles. While he previously appeared on Law & Order: SVU, he’s best known for his role as Lucas. Lucas’s character has faced some tough choices, especially in Season 4 when he briefly tried to connect with the popular kids before ultimately returning to his close friends – and hoping for the recovery of his friend Max, who was critically injured in a confrontation with Vecna.

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  • The Boys Presents: Diabolical
  • The Book of Clarence
  • The Deliverance

Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield

Max Mayfield joined the cast of Stranger Things in Season 2 when her family relocated to Hawkins. Since then, she’s faced significant hardship, including the death of her stepbrother in Season 3 and her mother’s battle with alcoholism. In Season 4, Max became a target for Vecna, and a terrifying encounter left her in a coma, which Vecna used to open a final gateway to the Upside Down. The character is brilliantly portrayed by Sadie Sink, who is quickly becoming a major star – she’ll soon appear in an upcoming Spider-Man: No Way Home project as part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Also seen in:

  • Fear Street
  • Eli
  • The Glass Castle

Joe Keery as Steve Harrington

You know, it’s wild to think Steve Harrington was originally meant to die in the first season of Stranger Things! The Duffer brothers actually rewrote his storyline after Joe Keery got cast. They quickly realized he was just too great an actor – and character! – to let go. Over the seasons, Steve’s really become like an older brother to the kids, and he’s still hopelessly in love with Nancy, which makes for a really fun dynamic. Honestly, he’s become one of the most popular characters on the show, and everyone’s rooting for him to finally get a happy ending. I really hope the writers deliver!

Also seen in:

  • Empire
  • Free Guy
  • Fargo

Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler

Natalie Dyer started her acting career with a small role in the 2009 film Hannah Montana: The Movie, but she became widely known for her work on Stranger Things. Her character, Nancy, has developed significantly since the first season, becoming recognized for her bravery and curious personality. Notably, she was the one who uncovered Vecna’s origins in Season 4 and will likely play a key role in the upcoming fight against the Upside Down. Nancy is also at the center of a popular romantic storyline, with Steve and Jonathan both interested in her.

Also seen in:

  • Based on a True Story
  • Chestnut
  • All Fun and Games

Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers

Jonathan Byers, Will’s older brother, became involved in the mysteries of Hawkins after Will disappeared in the first season. Throughout Stranger Things, he’s often been overshadowed by Nancy, but the fourth season showed his true feelings for her. With a connection growing between Nancy and Steve, Jonathan will need to decide if he’s ready to fully commit to the relationship. Jonathan is portrayed by Charlie Heaton, a British actor and musician whose career has benefited from his role in Stranger Things.

Also seen in:

  • Shut In
  • Marrowbone
  • The New Mutants

Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley

Maya Hawke, daughter of Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman, began her acting career in 2017 with a role in Little Women. She gained wider recognition as Robin in Season 3 of Stranger Things. Robin is a quirky coworker of Steve’s who becomes his close friend. Throughout the season, she deals with a personal struggle: she’s realizing she’s attracted to women and trying to understand her feelings in a time when it wasn’t widely accepted.

As seen in:

  • Wildcat
  • Inside Out 2
  • Moon Girl and Devil Dinosaur

David Harbour as Jim Hopper

David Harbour, an American actor, first gained significant recognition in the 2008 film Quantum of Solace. He continued to build his career with smaller roles before landing the part of Jim Hopper in Stranger Things. Hopper, the police chief of Hawkins, is a character haunted by the tragic loss of his daughter and struggles to connect with others. The unexpected arrival of Eleven offered him a second chance at fatherhood, and he begins to explore his feelings for Joyce. Though presumed dead at the end of Season 3, Hopper was revealed to be alive in Season 4 and has now returned to Hawkins.

Also seen in:

  • Quantum of Solace
  • Hellboy
  • Thunderbolts*

Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers

Winona Ryder brought significant recognition to Stranger Things when the show began, and she’s done incredibly well playing Joyce Byers, a mother whose life is turned upside down when her son, Will, goes missing. Joyce has unexpectedly become the show’s hero, even going as far as traveling to Russia to save Hopper. She’s sure to be a key figure in Season 5, focused on protecting her family.

Also seen in:

  • Alien: Resurrection
  • The Plot Against America
  • Beetlejuice Beetlejuice

Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman

Brett Gelman is a busy TV actor, and he’s become well-known for his role as Murray Bauman in Stranger Things. Murray started as a minor character, but quickly became an important part of the show. His hunches have proven incredibly useful to the kids in Hawkins, and he even traveled to the Soviet Union with Joyce to try and save Hopper in Season 4. With the military now taking over Hawkins, Murray’s life is undoubtedly more complicated.

Also seen in:

  • The Night is Young
  • Fleabag
  • Lady in the Lake

Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair

Priah Ferguson, who is from Atlanta, Georgia, plays Erica Sinclair on Stranger Things. Initially a minor character, Erica became more involved in Season 3, bringing a fresh dose of childhood energy as the main characters matured. She’s a remarkably clever and confident kid – a true standout who playfully reminds everyone that “America” includes her!

Also seen in:

  • The Curse of Bridge Hollow
  • My Dad the Bounty Hunter
  • Hamster & Gretel

Other Cast & Character in Stranger Things Season 5

Season 5 of Stranger Things will introduce new characters, and some familiar faces from previous seasons will have more prominent roles.

  • Sci-fi legend Linda Hamilton (of The Terminator fame) will make her debut as Dr. Kay, a scientist attempting to unlock secrets of the Upside Down
  • Alex Breaux (Clone, Echo Village, American Primeval) plays Lt. Robert Akers, a key member of Dr. Kay’s team
  • Sherman Augustus (Extraction, The Accursed, Red Cargo) returns as Lt. Colonel Sullivan, a high-ranking member of the US military who hunted Eleven in Season 4
  • Young actress Nell Fisher (Northspur, Bookworm, Evil Dead Rise) has been recast as Holly Wheeler, Mike’s younger sister, who will apparently have a major role
  • Irish-Canadian actress Amybeth McNulty (Morgan, Anne with an E, All My Pun Sorrows) is Vickie, Robin’s love interest
  • Cara Buono (Person of Interest, The Sopranos, Mad Men) returns as Karen Wheeler, Mike and Holly’s mom
  • Newcomer Jake Connelly plays Derek Turnbow, one of Erica’s classmates

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2025-11-24 19:45