Stranger Things Season 4: Details We Know So Far

Fans have been waiting for Season 4 of "Stranger Things" for what seems like forever. The Netflix series quickly became a fan-favorite among viewers when it first debuted on the streaming service, and years later viewers are still dying to see what comes next. During Season 3 of the series, there is a one-year time jump, which sees the formation of couples like Mike and Eleven as well as Lucas and Max (via Buzzfeed). The gang's big hangout has become the new Starcourt Mall, where Steve has a job with a new character named Robin. Meanwhile, Nancy and Jonathan have started internships at the Hawkins newspaper.

Season 3 introduced the new monster called the Mind Flayer, which takes up residence in Billy. The season comes to a conclusion during an epic battle with the Mind Flayer at the mall, which sadly kills Billy and sees the kids changed forever. Meanwhile, while trying to fight off their own enemies, Joyce and Hopper run into trouble which leads Hopper to sacrifice himself and seemingly dies in an explosion.

A flashforward to three months later reveals that the town has grieved the death of Hopper and that Eleven has lost her powers. Eleven now lives with Joyce, Jonathan, and Will and the family moves out of Hawkins to end the season. However, a post-credits scene reveals that Hopper may still be alive. So, what's in store for Season 4?

"Stranger Things" Season 3 was released in July of 2019. However, since that time fans have been continuing to wait for more episodes. Season 4 of the series began filming in 2020, but just one month later they were forced to shut down due to the COVID-19 pandemic, per Screen Rant. When filming resumed in late 2020 fans were excited that new episodes would soon be coming. However, that wasn't the case.

Executive producer Shawn Levy revealed that there have been so many delays as the upcoming season had a very broad scope which used many filming locations. Of course, the COVID-19 restrictions also played a part in the delays. "As much as it pains our viewers that it will have been so long, trust me, it pains [creators the Duffer brothers] Matt, Ross, and I more," Levy told Collider. "It is a kind of perfect storm combination of COVID shutdown, slower pace of filming in COVID protocols and health protocols, which are necessary, and coincidentally we chose Season 4 to be by far — and I mean, by far, far, far — the most ambitious of the seasons," he added.

Currently, there is no official release date for "Stranger Things" Season 4. However, fans have speculated that the show would finally debut in July 2022 (via Express), three years after Season 3 was released.

"Stranger Things" would be nothing without it's amazing young cast, and fans can expect the core group to return for Season 4 of the show. Actors like Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Noah Schnapp (Will), Sadie Sink (Max), Joe Keery (Steve), Natalia Dyer (Nancy), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan), and Maya Hawke (Robin) will all likely be back, per Digital Spy. Winona Ryder is also expected to return as Will and Jonathan's mother, Joyce. Fans will also see actor David Harbour return as Hopper.

It has yet to be revealed how Hopper survived the explosion that caused everyone to believe that he was dead. However, Harbour has confirmed that he'll return for Season 4 and that Hopper will be changed by his experiences. "So we'll see a very different guy going forwards. The same guy but in a different vein. It's a very cool thing to be able to play," he told Total Film. Of course, it's also likely fans viewers will see new characters emerge as well.

Not much is known about the plot for "Stranger Things" Season 4. However, there have been a number of teaser trailers released that reveal hints at locations fans will see in the upcoming episodes (via NME). Meanwhile, Netflix has also released the titles of all the episodes that will make up the upcoming season, also revealing that there will be only nine episodes. "The Hellfire Club," "Vecna's Curse," "The Monster and the Superhero," "Dear Billy," "The Nina Project," "The Dive," "The Massacre at Hawkins Lab," "Papa," and "The Piggyback," have all been announced as episodes titles for Season 4.

Seventeen reports that the show will take place in the spring of 1986, due to a teaser trailer. In addition, now that fans know that Hopper is still alive it seems that he may need some help to be saved from wherever he's being held, and although Eleven has lost her powers some fans can't help but wonder if she could be the only one who can help him.

Meanwhile, fans continue to wait for Season 4's release, and can't wait to find out what's in store for their favorite characters.