‘Stranger Things 4’ Isn’t Coming Out Anytime Soon — But the Cast and Creators Know the Delay Will Be ‘Worth the Wait’
It’s been over a year since Netflix dropped the last chapter of Stranger Things, but the fourth season isn’t coming out anytime soon. Many fans expected the hit sci-fi series to be released in early 2021. But production faced a major setback due to the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. So now, viewers must wait and see what the future holds. Nevertheless, the Stranger Things 4 cast and creators promise the new season will be well worth the delay.
‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 stopped filming after a few weeks
Stranger Things Season 4 started filming in February. However, it wasn’t long before production was shut down because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Netflix series went on hiatus in mid-March 2020.
“I think we were just maybe a few weeks into filming,” Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler, told The Hollywood Reporter in July. “I was still kind of getting used to it and finding the flow of it and getting my body used to waking up at whatever hour.”
She continued, “It’s kind of wild to think about because it’s something that you look forward to so much, and there’s so much preparation and excitement around it. And then, we start and stop. And now, it’s been quite a while. But I’m very, very excited for when we do go back.”
‘Stranger Things 4’ cast members Natalia Dyer and Joe Keery discuss the new season
Despite the delay for Stranger Things 4, some cast members think the extended time between seasons could be beneficial since it gives Matt and Ross Duffer more time to fill out the storyline. Still speaking with The Hollywood Reporter, Dyer revealed she’s “excited” about the scripts for the upcoming season.
“Normally, we get the first few scripts, and then they have to keep writing due to the schedule of it,” the actor said. “It takes a while to craft a script. So, normally, there’s a kind of ‘writing as we’re going.’ But it seems they’ve had enough time. I think it’s maybe been a blessing for the writers, in some way, because they had the time to just sit down, think and create.”
Meanwhile, Joe Keery, who plays Steve Harrington, echoed his Stranger Things co-star’s remarks.
“[The hiatus] definitely gives them more time to write, and I think that that’s always good,” Keery told THR in August 2020. “Something that the [Duffer] Brothers have always been extremely, extremely controlling over is just the quality control of the show. So, if this just gives them more time to realize what their vision is, then yeah, I think it could be a good thing.”
He later added, “It’ll be worth the wait, hopefully.”
‘Stranger Things’ creators update fans on season 4
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on Aug. 18, The Duffer Brothers updated fans on the status of Stranger Things Season 4. Ross shared the cast and crew are ready to dive back into work. Though safety comes first.
“The priority is the safety of the cast and crew, and that will dictate when we go back,” he said.
That said, Matt confirmed the hiatus has allowed them to perfect the Stranger Things 4 scripts. “We’ve had a lot more time to work on the scripts,” he said. “For the first time, we have all the scripts written and we’re able to look at it as a whole piece and make adjustments.”
The Duffer Brothers also suggested the delay has given them the opportunity to plan out Stranger Things beyond the fourth season. And now, they seem to know how the series will end.
“Season four won’t be the end,” Ross said. “We know what the end is, and we know when it is. [The pandemic] has given us time to look ahead, figure out what is best for the show. Starting to fill that out gave us a better idea of how long we need to tell that story.”
Whenever Stranger Things 4 is released on Netflix, it’s clear the cast and creators are confident in the new season. So get ready.
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