They’re All Back… Except One. The Cast Swing and a Miss for the Final Chapter of Stranger Things

2 November 2025

Courtesy of Netflix

As fans gear up for the much-anticipated finale of the Netflix phenomenon Stranger Things, the big question has lingered: who is returning for the showdown in Hawkins and who is not? With the fifth and final season of the sci-fi horror series unveiling its eight-episode arc across three drops beginning November 26, followed by December 25 and ending on December 31 the casting pages are now nearly flipped shut, and we’ve got mostly familiar faces appearing in the end-game, with one notable exception.

First, the home team remains sturdy. Star cast members such as Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven/Jane Hopper), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley) and Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair) all confirmed to be returning and part of the large ensemble heading into the finale.

Their participation underscores the show’s full-circle approach: the “kids” who began the journey in Hawkins back in 2016 are now matured versions of those same characters, set for their final hurrah. For long-time viewers the emotional weight of seeing familiar faces back in action is a strong anchor; for the Duffer Brothers and Netflix, this consistency appears central to the show’s closing-chapter ambition.

Yet the biggest buzz perhaps the only real casting surprise centres on one absence. Joseph Quinn’s fan-favourite character Eddie Munson, introduced in season 4 as the memorable Hellfire Club leader, will not be returning for the final season. The show’s creators have definitively stated that Eddie is “fully under that ground,” meaning his heroic sacrifice in season 4 stands, and he will not appear in new footage for the finale.

Quinn’s non-return marks a rare moment in Stranger Things lore where a beloved character is excluded not by scheduling but by narrative finality. Eddie’s arc concluded dramatically in the Upside Down, and while previous seasons have brought back characters via flashback or ghost-like continuations, the creators appear intent on moving the story forward without resurrecting him.

The exclusion of Quinn adds a bittersweet layer to the finale. His character became a touchstone of late-stage Stranger Things mythology yet his absence may serve as a narrative signal that attachments must shift and the stakes are higher now. It also suggests the creators are treating this as an ending rather than another middle chapter.

In casting terms the final season becomes a mix of faithful returns and respectful departures. The returnees bring a sense of continuity and gravitational pull for the audience. The departure of Quinn signals evolution, consequence and perhaps the idea that not all stories can be extended indefinitely. For viewers, knowing every face they loved (save one) will appear may offer comfort. For the show itself it offers closure.

With the cast largely intact the final season looks to deliver on the promise of a climatic showdown set in 1987 Hawkins, where old alliances, supernatural threats and long-standing wounds collide. The returning ensemble brings decades of character development; their presence now forms the backbone of what the series hopes will be an epic farewell.

In sum the casting news matters because it shapes audience expectations. It confirms that the heart of Hawkins is back, that reignited friendships and lost time will be addressed, and that one dramatic absence will serve as the emotional gravestone for a chapter of fandom. Stranger Things is ending, but as its cast returns almost in full force, the presence of a missing piece may prove equally important in the telling.