Stranger Things actor Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair on the show, has reflected on wrapping up the series.
McLaughlin was asked about his experience being on the Netflix show by ScreenRant during a press day interview to promote his new Audible Original drama series, Sacrilege: Curse of the Mbirwi. When asked about how he feels to say goodbye to Lucas, the actor said: “Man, I mean, I’ve kind of went through those emotions already. So now it’s for the fans to take that in and digest. I feel great. It’s been a blessing. Genuinely. It’s truly insane of how long it’s been. It’s like 10 years I’ve been on the show.”
Then, speaking about what it was like to wrap Stranger Things on the final day of filming, McLaughlin said he cried from the emotions of the day. “And last year, of course, the last day I was like, “I’m not going to cry. I’m not going to cry.” And then ended up just bawling, man,” he said.
“Ten years of just love, laughter and sadness and peace. So I was able to get all those feelings out. But honestly, I just feel blessed and just happy to have these guys and been a part of just something so amazing, and that has touched a lot of people.”
He also reflected on the experience of growing up with Lucas: “I’ve done the show for so long, for, of course, myself and my love of art and TV, and this was my childhood dream, but this has been a lot of people’s childhood experience, and it’s gotten people past a lot of their trauma or things that they’ve experienced, and they watch the show and it’s helped them escape, you know what I mean?”
Yesterday, Netflix confirmed the three-part release plan for Stranger Things season five. The first chapter will drop on November 27 at 1am GMT, the second will launch at 1am on December 26 and the finale will be released on New Year’s Day in the UK.
The fight isn’t over yet. Get ready for the epic series finale of Stranger Things.
Volume 1: November 26, 5pm PT*
Volume 2: Christmas, 5pm PT*
The Finale: New Year's Eve, 5pm PT**releasing worldwide all at once, date may vary based on your local timezone #TUDUM pic.twitter.com/nBcx9Ast9x
— Netflix (@netflix) June 1, 2025
In February 2022, creators Matt and Ross Duffer announced in a letter that the fifth season of Stranger Things will be the show’s last.
Speaking to NME, Matt Duffer confirmed the final season will be paced differently in comparison to previous outings.
“Typically in the previous seasons, everything wraps up in a nice bow,” he said. “Four and five are really [connected] together. [With five], there’ll be no wind-up time – like even this season, you get to experience the kids and what they’re going through in high school before things start to escalate.
“Then it gets crazier and crazier and crazier – that’s typically the trajectory. Five, you’re just going to be right in the middle of it so it’s going to feel very, very different.”