Stranger Things season 5 - What fans can look forward to, plus five chilling predictions

Although the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, haven’t given too much away about what will happen in season five, they have dropped some exciting hints. But what exactly can fans expect in season 5?

It’s been almost 10 years since Stranger Things first graced our screens back in July 2016 becoming a huge hit but the show will be back for its fifth - and final - season later this year.

We don’t yet have an official date for the release of season 5, but we do know that well-known faces , Sadie Sink, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, , David Harbour, and Jamie Campbell Bower will all return for the last series.

And while most details about Stranger Things season 5 have been kept under wraps so far, the creators have been teasing fans with a few clues about what they can expect.

READ MORE:

Though Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) has not been a huge character in the show so far, new Stranger Things set pictures have prompted audiences to speculate about her increased involvement. The pictures in question show Vecna standing near Holly, hinting that she could become integral to his final plan, according to Screen Rant.

But perhaps even more interestingly, season 5, episode 2, is titled "The Vanishing of...", leading many long-time fans of the show to note the similarity to the season 1 disappearance of Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and speculate that the title could refer to Holly.

If Stranger Things season 5 does see Holly become Vecna's next victim, Karen could become a much bigger character as she tries to find her daughter. And if the theories about Holly are correct, the Wheeler family may finally get more screen time and a bigger storyline.

Producer Shawn Levy previously revealed that the series will bow out on a high with a more than satisfying conclusion. He told Total Film: "We don't want to be one of those shows that is flailing while it searches for a way to stick the landing … We really want to stick the landing".

The show still has a lot of questions to answer - in particular how its main characters will finally defeat Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). Given that Stranger Things season 4 ended with Max (Sadie Sink) still in a coma and the Upside Down creeping into the real , it seems likely that the group will face even more challenging circumstances than ever, Screen Rant adds.

Meanwhile, fans have been coming up with their chilling predictions after a short video teaser was released ahead of the Netflix TUDUM event which takes place today, Saturday May 31. Buzzfeed user danimegaladon predicts that Eddie comes back: "Kas died via bat bites, like Eddie, but was resurrected as a half-vampire to eventually defeat Vecna himself. He also wielded a sword and shield, like Eddie, and they thought Vecna was defeated until Will said that he still felt him JUST LIKE IN THE CAMPAIGN.

"The Duffers don’t add details like that for no reason. Plus, I’m just holding out hope that Eddie comes back somehow. I refuse to believe that they just left him in the Upside Down, but who knows."

While Matthew Ramage says: "Eleven will definitely have to sacrifice herself to destroy the Upside Down forever."

And maddisonm49eae7c83 thinks there will be a twist unveiled, predicting: "I read a theory that Vecna is actually Eleven's biological father, and I can't get it out of my head."

Another Buzzfeed user childrenofthecornbread says: "I think that Max is going to be used as some sort of go-between for Vecna and Eleven, either for communication or even used as a puppet for battle."

Meanwhile, Matthew Ramage predicts: "I could see those lost to the Upside Down (Barb, Chrissy, Billy, etc.) coming back in some sort of spirit form to help defeat the monsters in the final battle."

Since the clip was released, fans have been scratching their heads over what it could mean. The clip is unclear but seems to feature several overlapping sounds, including banging and radio static waves. It also includes someone's voice, but it is hard to make out before the note "can't transcribe message" pops up.

All we do know is that viewers can expect film-length episodes in the latest series as it concludes the fan favourite show, and that its creators say they won’t be disappointed.

READ MORE: