Netflix'sbizarre yet irreplicable megahit show is coming to an end after nearly a decade, and fans are gearing up for the epic "Stranger Things" climax with high expectations.
Whether viewers recently rewatched the first four seasons of the series or are going intoSeason 5with vague recollections from 2022, many are wondering who they will − and who they won't see − when the first four episodes drop on Wednesday, Nov. 26, ahead of the Thanksgiving holiday.
Of course, central characters like Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) will appear on our screens for the dramatic end. Yet with such a massive ensemble that has only expanded since its2016 roots, many are dying to know who will be there for the show's official sendoff.
If you need a refresher of Season 1-4,USA TODAY Entertainment Reporter Brendan Morrowhasgot you covered here with a full recap.
'Stranger Things' Season 4 character refresher
New characters introduced in Season 4, like Argyle (Eduardo Franco) and Dimitri (Tom Wlaschiha), have not been confirmed to return to Season 5. Others, like fan favorite Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn), willdefinitelynot return after the character heroically died in the Upside Down last season.
"I love that Joe Quinn is toying with people! But no, he's dead," co-creator Matt Duffer said in anOctober interview with Empire. "Joe is so busy anyway that everyone should know he's not coming back. He's shot like five movies since! When the hell has he got time to come and shoot 'Stranger Things'? No, sadly, RIP. He's fully under that ground."
Meanwhile, the newly introduced villain, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), is not only returning for Season 5 but is set to be the primary antagonist.
Who is returning for 'Stranger Things' Season 5?
The following characters and actors are returning for Season 5:
Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder)
Jim Hopper (David Harbour)
Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown)
Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard)
Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo)
Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin)
Will Byers (Noah Schnapp)
Max Mayfield (Sadie Sink)
Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer)
Jonathan Byers (Charlie Heaton)
Steve Harrington (Joe Keery)
Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke)
Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower)
Fast forward a decade later to Nov. 6, 2025, at the final red carpet premiere of "Stranger Things," as the cast prepares to say goodbye to the end of an area filled with Demogorgons, Mind Flayers, bicycle rides, Eggos, secret labs, first loves, heartbreaks and the biggest bad of them all: Vecna. From left: Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown and Gaten Matarazzo attend Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 5 world premiere at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Nov. 6, 2025, in Hollywood, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Following the first batch of episodes, fans will have to wait until Christmas Day for "Volume 2" to binge three more episodes. Finally, it will all come to a bittersweet end on New Year's Eve with the series finale (which will also be hitting theaters).After the Season 5 premiere in Los Angeles, Jamie Campbell Bower, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, and Finn Wolfhard attended a For Your Consideration event at Netflix's Tudum Theater on Nov. 8, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Millie Bobby Brown was only 11 (no pun intended) when she attended the Season 1 premiere of "Stranger Things" at Mack Sennett Studios on July 11, 2016, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Now 21, Brown is all grown up in a Rodarte black gown at the final premiere. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
On Nov. 13, 2025, Brown wore another elegant black gown at the UK screening of "Stranger Things 5" at Odeon Luxe Leicester Square in London. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Noah Schnapp was also 11 when "Stranger Things" first began. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Schnapp, now 21, looked dapper at the final "Stranger Things" premiere." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Schnapp and Brown, who have fostered a close friendship offscreen, share a laugh at the London premiere of "Season Things 5." " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Gaten Matarazzo was almost 13 when "Stranger Things" premiered in 2016. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Matarazzo, now 23, who plays the beloved Dustin Henderson onscreen, looked rocked a three-piece dark grey suit at the final "Stranger Things" premiere." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Matarazzo at the London screening of the final season. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Caleb McLaughlin was almost 14 when "Stranger Things" Season 1 premiered in the summer of 2016. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
McLaughlin, now 24, attends the world premiere of Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 5 in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
McLaughlin wore custom Joshua Kane at the London premiere. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Finn Wolfhard was almost 12 when "Stranger Things" premiered in 2016. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Wolfhard, now 22, spoke to USA TODAY at the "Stranger Things 5" red carpet about how it feels to say goodbye to the hit Netflix show and his costars. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"I feel like I haven't ever said goodbye totally," Wolfhard said. "It comes in waves, I feel like. But it's really nice to be able to be here with everyone and experience sort of the end, even though it doesn't really feel like the end, because we all still talk a lot."" style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Natalia Dyer was 20 years old when she first appeared on Netflix's "Stranger Things" in 2016. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Dyer, now ushering a new season as a soon-to-be 31-year-old, opted to wear a bold red dress for the final "Stranger Things" premiere as she did for the first. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Dyer attends the "Stranger Things 5" screening in London on Nov. 13, 2025. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
After a breakout Season 1 of "Stranger Things," the core cast was back at it on the red carpet circuit for Season 2. Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Finn Wolfhard and Millie Bobby Brown attend the premiere of Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 2 at Regency Bruin Theatre on Oct. 26, 2017." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Season 2 of the show saw new cast additions including Sadie Sink as May Mayfield and Dacre Montgomery as her brother, Billy Hargrove. "The Goonies" actor Sean Astin, "Beverly Hills Cop" actor Paul Reiser and "Teenland" actress Linnea Berthelsen also joined the cast." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Sadie Sink, now 23, attends Netflix's "Stranger Things 2" premiere on Oct. 26, 2017, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sink attends the world premiere of Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 5 in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Sink attends a "Stranger Things" Season 5 screening in London. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Brown walked hand-in-hand with costar Sink on the black carpet at the Hollywood premiere of "Stranger Things" Season 5 on Nov. 6, at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
The two have been red carpet besties since the beginning. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Joe Keery, now 33, has been part of the original "Stranger Things" cast since Season 1. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Fast forward a decade later, Keery has also forayed into the music industry. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Keery opts for an edgy, all-black look at the final premiere of "Stranger Things" in Los Angeles. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Charlie Heaton, the brooding Jonathan Byers on "Stranger Things," has also been on the show since the start. Here he is pictured at the 2017 BAFTA Tea Party at Four Seasons Hotel in Los Angeles. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Heaton, now 31, attends the world premiere of Netflix's "Stranger Things" final season. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Heaton, a UK native, attends the "Stranger Things" screening in London. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Mother! Winona Ryder attends the Season 1 premiere of Netflix's "Stranger Things" at Mack Sennett Studios on July 11, 2016, in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Ryder attends the 2025 world premiere of Netflix's "Stranger Things" in Los Angeles." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Blast from the past! David Harbour at the premiere of Netflix's "Stranger Things" at Mack Sennett Studios on July 11, 2016. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
David Harbour, now 50, attends the final premiere of "Stranger Things." He plays Jim Hopper. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Father-daughter duo from the start. Harbour and Brown attend the after party for the premiere of Netflix's "Stranger Things" in 2016. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
The final "Stranger Things" premiere was nearly plagued with controversy after reports surfaced from the Daily Mail on Nov. 1 that Brown had allegedly filed a harassment and bullying claim against her onscreen dad before filming began. During the Nov. 7 premiere, however, the actors showed a united front, conveying nothing but admiration toward each other as phones and cameras measured their every move." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Priah Ferguson, who plays Lucas Sinclair's younger sister Erica Sinclair, also joined the cast of "Stranger Things" in Season 1. She has gradually become a fan favorite with her sassy attitude and quick wit toward her onscreen brother Caleb and the rest of the Hawkins gang. Here she is pictured at the Season 3 premiere of the show on June 28, 2019, in Santa Monica, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" />
Priah Ferguson attends Netflix's "Stranger Things" red carpet premiere for Season 5. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Say "Vecna"! "Stranger Things" cast Gaten Matarazzo, Natalia Dyer, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Finn Wolfhard and Millie Bobby Brown (front right) attend the BUILD Series at AOL HQ on Aug. 31, 2016, in New York City. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Strike a pose! The Core Four of Hawkins hit the 22nd annual Critics' Choice Awards at Barker Hangar on Dec. 11, 2016, in Santa Monica, California." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Caleb McLaughlin, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp and Gaten Matarazzo at the 22nd annual Critics' Choice Awards. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 'Stranger Things' cast then and now: See Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp grow up in photos
Fast forward a decade later to Nov. 6, 2025, at the final red carpet premiere of "Stranger Things," as the cast prepares to say goodbye to the end of an area filled with Demogorgons, Mind Flayers, bicycle rides, Eggos, secret labs, first loves, heartbreaks and the biggest bad of them all: Vecna.From left: Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Caleb McLaughlin, Millie Bobby Brown and Gaten Matarazzo attend Netflix's "Stranger Things" Season 5 world premiere at TCL Chinese 6 Theatres on Nov. 6, 2025, in Hollywood, California.
Erica Sinclair (Priah Ferguson)
Murray (Brett Gelman)
Karen Wheeler (Cara Buono)
Ted Wheeler (Joe Chest)
Vickie (Amybeth McNulty)
Lt. Colonel Jack Sullivan (Sherman Augustus)
Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher)
USA TODAY Entertainment Reporter Anthony Robledocaught up with the "Stranger Things" cast at the final red carpet premiere. Readabout how Finn Wolfhard and Noah Schnapp are saying goodbye to the Netflix show.
Who's not coming back for 'Stranger Things 5'?
The following characters have not been confirmed to be in "Stranger Things" Season 5, despite their characters presumably being alive.
Argyle (Eduardo Franco)
Dimitri (Tom Wlaschiha)
Yuri (Nikola Djuricko)
Eight/Kali Prasad (Linnea Berthelsen)
Sam Owens (Paul Reiser)
"Stranger Things" is almost here! The fifth and final season of the Netflix horror series will return Nov. 26 (with subsequent installments on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve). Take a peek at images from the episodes, including Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Nell Fisher as Holly Wheeler in "Stranger Things" Season 5. The third Wheeler sibling has been too young to be included in earlier seasons. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
"Terminator" star Linda Hamilton makes her debut as Dr. Kay in "Stranger Things" Season 5." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven and Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler in "Stranger Things" Season 5. Their teen romance will have to endure apocalyptic problems. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson and Joe Keery as Steve Harrington in "Stranger Things" Season 5. Everyone's favorite friends will have their own trials and tribulations. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair and Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield in "Stranger Things" Season 5. Max ended Season 4 of the series in a coma caused by villain Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair in "Stranger Things" Season 5. Lucas' little sister is a fan favorite." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
Noah Schnapp as Will Byers and Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna in "Stranger Things" Season 5. Will's kidnapping by Vecna into the Upside Down in Season 1 started the whole series of unfortunate events of the show. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
The gang's all here: Joe Keery as Steve Harrington, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, and Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair in "Stranger Things" Season 5." style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> 
An image from "Stranger Things" Season 5. Things are looking positively like the end of the world in Hawkins, Indiana. " style="max-width:100%; height:auto; border-radius:6px; margin:10px 0;" loading="lazy" /> Sneak peek photos from 'Stranger Things' Season 5, including Max Mayfield's fate
"Stranger Things" is almost here! Thefifth and final season of the Netflix horror serieswill return Nov. 26 (with subsequent installments on Christmas Day and New Year's Eve). Take a peek at images from the episodes, including Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers.
Which characters died on 'Stranger Things'?
In case viewers forgot, the following characters have died in "Stranger Things" and are highly unlikely to return in Season 5.
Eddie Munson (Joseph Quinn)
Dr. Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine)
Jason Carver (Mason Dye)
Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery)
Bob Newby (Sean Astin)
Barb Holland (Shannon Purser)
Who are the new characters in 'Stranger Things 5'
Derek Turnbow (Jake Connelly)
Lt. Akers (Alex Breaux)
Dr. Kay (Linda Hamilton)
What time does 'Stranger Things' come out?
Part one of "Stranger Things" Season 5 premieres on Wednesday, Nov. 26 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
This release includes the first four episodes of Season 5. The next three episodes will release on Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT, and the finale will release on Dec. 31 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
Contributing: Greta Cross, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:'Stranger Things' Season 5 cast — who's returning and who's not?