Stranger Things 5 First Look Reveals Hopper, Eleven, and the Demogorgon in Action

Netflix has officially dropped the first look at Hopper, Eleven, and the Demogorgon from the highly anticipated fifth and final season of Stranger Things, giving fans their first real glimpse at the climactic conclusion to the Hawkins saga.

The new image teases a tense face-off between Hopper (David Harbour), Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and the franchise’s most iconic monster — the Demogorgon — signaling that the final season will blend the emotional stakes of Season 1 with the scale and spectacle of Season 4.

Release Schedule and Format

Stranger Things 5 will roll out in three parts on Netflix:

• Volume 1: November 26, 2025

• Volume 2: December 25, 2025

• Final Episode: December 31, 2025

The season will feature eight episodes in total, produced by the Duffer Brothers alongside Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen. Each volume promises escalating tension as the series heads toward its explosive finale.

Returning Cast and New Additions

The beloved ensemble cast returns for one final showdown in Hawkins. Alongside Brown and Harbour, the returning cast includes:

• Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers

• Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler

• Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson

• Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair

• Noah Schnapp as Will Byers

• Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield

• Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler

• Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers

• Joe Keery as Steve Harrington

• Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley

• Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair

• Brett Gelman as Murray Bauman

• Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler

Amybeth McNulty (from Anne with an E) joins the main cast after appearing briefly in Season 4, while Linda Hamilton (The Terminator) makes her Stranger Things debut in an undisclosed but pivotal role.

Story and Setting

The story picks up in fall 1987, one year after the cataclysmic events of Season 4. The residents of Hawkins are still reeling from the chaos caused by Vecna, whose influence continues to spread through the rifts tearing their world apart.

Now back together, Eleven and her friends must find a way to close the Rifts and stop Vecna once and for all — but their mission takes a darker turn when the military begins hunting Eleven, fearing her power could destroy everything.

With the anniversary of Will Byers’ disappearance approaching, the stakes have never been higher. Old wounds resurface, alliances are tested, and Hawkins faces its final stand against the Upside Down.

What the First Look Reveals

The newly released image highlights Hopper and Eleven in a dimly lit facility, standing face-to-face with a Demogorgon — a creature that started the nightmare back in 2016. The shot captures the emotional weight of the moment: Hopper protecting Eleven like a father while confronting the monster that once tore their lives apart.

The Duffer Brothers have promised that the fifth season will be their most ambitious yet, combining the nostalgic horror of early seasons with the cinematic intensity of recent ones.

Why Fans Are Excited

Since its debut, Stranger Things has become one of Netflix’s biggest cultural phenomena, inspiring everything from fan theories to retro fashion trends. This final chapter promises to bring the story full circle — tying together every thread from the Upside Down to Hawkins’ heart.

As the Duffers put it, Stranger Things 5 will not only conclude Eleven’s journey but also answer the mysteries that have lingered since Season 1.

Fans now have a clear timeline — and a haunting first image — to hold onto as the countdown to the end of Stranger Things begins.