Stranger Things Fans Face Season 5 Without Joseph Quinn Amid Final Episodes Split

The fifth and final season of Stranger Things will premiere in three volumes across major holidays, with the finale episode planned for a potential theatrical release in AMC and other theaters, marking a first for Netflix. Despite fan hopes and Joseph Quinn's teasing, the show's creators, the Duffer brothers, have confirmed that Quinn's character, Eddie Munson, will not return as he is definitively dead, citing Quinn's busy schedule with multiple major film projects. Eddie Munson, introduced in season four, quickly became a fan favorite, but the Duffers have shut down rumors of any resurrection or cameo. The upcoming season will also introduce new characters, such as Dr. Kay, a government agent pursuing Eleven. The final season's episodes are expected to have large budgets, with some episodes rumored to cost up to $50-60 million each, emphasizing the show's grand conclusion. This theatrical release aligns with Netflix's expanding strategy to establish itself as a player in movie theaters and offers a significant sendoff for the nine-year-long series.