Strangers Things season 3 is almost upon us, thanks in no small part to Netflix's refreshingly democratic attitude to TV commissioning.
So what can you expect from the long-awaited third season of the much-loved sci-fi? Here's everything we know (so far...)
When is Stranger Things season 3 released on Netflix?
Netflix has confirmed that the show will appear on the 4th July 2019, otherwise known as Independence Day in the US. We recommend that British viewers let bygones be bygones and follow their lead by stocking up on piles of flame-grilled snacks for a streaming binge.
We’ve seen a surprisingly long gap between the seasons, especially as filming wrapped up way back in November 2018, but Netflix’s vice president of original programming Cindy Holland says that it’ll be “worth the wait”.
“[Creators] The Duffer Brothers and [producer] Shawn Levy, they understand the stakes are high,” she said. “They want to deliver something bigger and better than last year. I think it’s going to be a fantastic season.”
Who’s new?
The whole gang are returning, including season two favourites Max (Sadie Sink), Billy (Dacre Montgomery) and Erica (Priah Ferguson), who will play a bigger role as she sets off on a “wild mission to save Hawkins from a dangerous and unexpected new threat”.
But we’ll also be seeing a couple of additions to the cast, including Maya Thurman-Hawke, who starred in the BBC adaptation of Little Woman and yes, you guessed it, is the daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke. Her character, Robin, uncovers a “dark secret” in Hawkins.
We’ll also be seeing The Princess Bride’s Cary Elwes and Jake Busey of Storm Troopers fame, who play Mayor Klin and Bruce respectively. Haters Back Off actor Francesca Reale will play Heather, a lifeguard for a community pool that becomes embroiled in a “dark mystery”.
Where are the trailers?
Directly below these words you're reading right this very second. Netflix released the first full trailer on the 20th March, soundtracked by The Who’s ‘Teenage Wasteland’ – a reference to the Stranger Things kids’ descent into the trials and tribulations of adolescence.
Before that, Netflix provided a teaser showing an ad for a new mall in Hawkins, which introduced the character of Robin.
What’s the story?
In 'Worlds Turned Upside Down', a behind-the-scenes book on the series, co-creator Ross Duffer says that we’ll pick up less than a year after season two, in 1985.
“It’s really the final summer of their childhood. They’re dealing with growing up, with these complicated new relationships. They’re starting to fall apart a little bit, and maybe they don’t love playing Dungeons & Dragons as much as they used to. Naturally, that’s going to generate conflict.”
Going into more detail with The Hollywood Reporter, Duffer said: “They’ve shut the door on the Mind Flayer, but not only is it still there in the Upside Down, it’s very much aware of the kids, and particularly Eleven,”
“It had not encountered her and her powers until that final episode. Now, it knows that she’s out there. We wanted to end on a little bit of an ominous note.”
True fans can do some background reading with the upcoming Strangers Things novel, Darkness on the Edge of Town, which will provide a backstory for Chief Jim Hopper and his past as a New York City homicide detective. The book will be released on the 4 June.
David Harbour, who plays Chief Hopper, also opened up to Variety about how the eighties action-comedy Fletch, starring Chevy Chase, was a surprising source of inspiration for season three. “The Duffers are so specific each year with the movies… and Fletch is one movie we get to play around and have some fun with this season, which you wouldn’t expect from Stranger Things… and you certainly wouldn’t expect from a darker season.”
One thing’s for sure: Will won’t be undertaking quite as much trauma in the next season. Matt Duffer told THR: “I feel like we really put Will through the wringer, and maybe now we’re going to give him a break at least.” Perhaps more focus will be placed on Kali/Eight and her vengeance-fuelled gang as they descend upon Hawkins to recruit Eleven once more.
What happened with that lawsuit?
Filmmaker Charlie Kessler accused Stranger Things co-writers The Duffer Brothers of plagiarism, alleging that they took the central plot of the show from his short film Montauk, but he filed a request for the suit’s dismissal a week before the trial was scheduled.
Pitchfork contacted Kessler for comment, and his lawyer gave the following statement:
“After hearing the deposition testimony this week of the legal expert I hired, it is now apparent to me that, whatever I may have believed in the past, my work had nothing to do with the creation of ‘Stranger Things.’ Documents from 2010 and 2013 prove that the Duffers independently created their show. As a result, I have withdrawn my claim and I will be making no further comment on this matter.”
