Duffer Brothers Say ‘Stranger Things’ Cast Hasn’t Aged as Much as Fans Think
The Duffer Brothers, creators of Stranger Things, recently addressed fans’ jokes about the cast aging over the years.
Since the show first premiered on Netflix in 2016, viewers have often noticed how much the young actors have grown, especially those who started as kids in Season 1. Ross and Matt Duffer explained that the aging is not as noticeable as many people think.
“It’s not as dramatic as people think,” Matt Duffer said, explaining how time passes differently on screen. He gave an example from Season 4, Episode 4, the “Dear Billy” episode, where Sadie Sink’s character is shown spending a year in the basement. “We shot the two scenes at the beginning and the end of production. And you can’t tell. No one’s ever, ever noticed that. That’s a full year.”
The brothers also spoke about how real-life time and filming schedules affect the actors. Ross Duffer joked that the time between the first season and now is hard to track, while Matt added that sometimes it’s even less than in reality. He said, “The energy of the Upside Down just accelerated everybody’s aging.”
Voice changes have also been noticeable for younger actors. Matt mentioned Jake Connelly, a new cast member, whose voice had dropped significantly since filming. “Luckily, there’s EQ technology. We actually were just listening today. It’s fine. We got worried for a second, but it’s OK.”
At long last… we can begin. The trailer for the epic final season of STRANGER THINGS is here pic.twitter.com/w4WuzuCqRs
— sƃuᴉɥʇ ɹǝƃuɐɹʇs (@Stranger_Things) October 30, 2025
Fans have often joked about the cast aging because so many of the main characters started as children and have now grown into teenagers and young adults. These jokes highlight how long the show has been running, but the Duffers say the real changes aren’t as obvious as viewers think.
The season had its world premiere on November 6, in Los Angeles, and is set to be released in three parts: the first volume of four episodes will debut on November 26, followed by the second with three episodes on December 25, and the series finale on December 31.
Have something to add? Let us know in the comments!