‘Stranger Things’ Bosses Reveal Shocking Season 5 Secret

The Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross, have revealed a surprising behind-the-scenes detail about the making of Stranger Things 5. In Netflix’s new documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, the pair admitted they started filming the final season without having a completed script for the series finale.

“We went into production without having a finished script for the finale. That was scary because we wanted to get it right. It was the most important script of the season,” Matt Duffer said in the documentary.

Ross Duffer added that the uncertainty led to some intense discussions about the story’s climax. He explained that the final episode needed to build toward a dramatic conclusion for Eleven, saying, “The whole episode has to be building towards, ‘Eleven is going to kill herself.'”

Matt, however, cautioned that too many twists could tire the audience. Their solution was to keep certain elements ambiguous, which eventually influenced how the season wrapped.

The documentary also showed emotional moments on set, including cast members saying goodbye after filming ended. Fans of the show are sure to have strong reactions to the Duffers’ admission, especially given the debate around the finale and the scrapped extra episode.

The fifth season, released in two volumes with the finale at the end of 2025, follows the group’s struggle to stop Vecna after rifts open throughout Hawkins. The season begins in the fall of 1987, with Eleven being hunted by the military and the town under quarantine. The group must unite to face a deadly new threat as the anniversary of Will Byers’ disappearance approaches.

Stranger Things 5 stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Brett Gelman, Priah Ferguson, Linda Hamilton, Cara Buono, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Nell Fisher. Several other actors, including Joe Chrest and Sherman Augustus, appear in recurring roles. The season received positive reviews from critics.

Chloé Zhao directed the season, with Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen producing alongside the Duffers. Zhao previously won an Oscar for Nomadland. The finale was screened in theaters across the U.S. and Canada on December 31, 2025, generating more than $25 million in concession revenue from 620 locations. Netflix also temporarily increased bandwidth for the season premiere to handle demand, though the site crashed shortly after the first episode went live.

Ross Duffer confirmed that the theatrical release had been planned for over a year, though ticket pre-sales were handled as concession vouchers due to cast contract considerations. The finale marked a significant moment for fans, as the season concluded the storylines of beloved characters, including Eleven and her friends.

The Duffer Brothers’ admission highlights the challenges of producing a show of Stranger Things’ scale. Starting production without a finalized script is risky, but it seems the gamble paid off, as the season received both critical praise and audience attention.

The story behind Stranger Things 5 shows how unpredictable TV production can be. It also gives fans a new perspective on the creative process and the difficult choices the creators made.

What do you think about the Duffers filming the finale before the script was finished? Share your thoughts in the comments.