There hasn’t been a new season of the sci-fi series since back in 2021
Stranger Things season 5 is almost here after four years of waiting, but when does it actually release in the UK?
The Netflix sensation became an unexpected hit in the summer of 2016. It’s centred on the residents of the fictional small town of Hawkins, Indiana. Quickly becoming a cultural phenomenon, it follows the town’s attempts to deal with a gateway between Earth and a hostile alternate dimension known as the Upside Down.
Serving as a career comeback for Winona Ryder, the young cast have gone on to become some of the biggest names in Hollywood. Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery and Joseph Quinn were all introduced to viewers through the series.
On top of this, David Harbour went on to become one of Hollywood’s most in demand actors, appearing in Marvel’s The Thunderbolts earlier in the same year in which his former wife Lilly Allen shined a light on their relationship with her new album.
With the fourth season dropping all the way back in 2022, which took three years to build on the previous season, the fifth and final season is to be released in three parts in November and December.
For those who haven’t found the time for a full rewatch, we last saw our heroes stunned by the reveal that the evil Vecna managed to create a rip between Hawkins and the Upside Down. Having already killed Eddie Munson, Vecna’s powers also left poor Max in a coma without her sight.
The synopsis for season 5 reads: “Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown.
“Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread.
“The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”
While Ameircan viewers will get the first three episodes of Stranger Things at 5pm PST on Wednesday (November 26), UK fans might not have a chance to watch them until the next day. It’s been confirmed that to avoid spoilers, it will drop in the UK on Netflix at 1am on Thursday (November 27).
In an era where spoilers are easier to come across than ever before, the late release arrives as a major blow anyone who won’t be able to watch until Thursday evening. Many Stranger Things fans rushed to X, previously known as Twitter, to express their frustrations.
@luvrhowells said: “pls do not give me spoilers for the new stranger things season. the UK doesn’t get it until thursday.” @B9RZY added: “my dumbass thought i could watch stranger things 5 now in the UK.”
@DeffoNotHere9 wrote: “Happy stranger things eve from the UK cuz i DONT live in america and there are TIMEZONES lets not FORGET.” @rebeccahamptoxn posted: “it’s stranger things day in America!! *cries in the UK*.”
@AAshtonWriter commented: “Being in the UK I’ve got to wait until Thursday for Stranger Things 5. So please no spoilers. But I’m so excited to see what’s gonna happen.
#StrangerThings5.” @stjopper stated: “UK / European people – are you staying up at 1am to watch stranger things or….because I have a 9-5 job and can’t lmao.”
The first four episodes of Stranger Things Season 5 drop on November 26, with three more arriving on Christmas Day before the final episode is released on New Year’s Eve on Netflix.
