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Like just about every major movie and TV production, Netflix series Stranger Things Season 4 was put on hold following the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The series ended on a memorable cliffhanger involving fan-favorite Hopper (David Harbour). But Millie Bobby Brown — who plays Hopper’s adopted daughter Eleven — struggled with season 3.

Millie Bobby Brown at the Screen Actors Guild Awards
Millie Bobby Brown at the Screen Actors Guild Awards | Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

‘Stranger Things’ made household names of its entire cast

When Stranger Things debuted in 2016, Netflix subscribers were drawn to the show’s eerie, nostalgia-heavy tone. Greatly influenced by 1980s horror and sci-fi classics, the series especially drew from the works of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King.

But series creators Matt and Ross Duffer also assembled an undeniably compelling ensemble cast. Winona Ryder is perhaps the only truly established name on the show. Aside from her, Stranger Things made instant stars of Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp.

But perhaps none of the show’s actors received the same level of scrutiny as Brown. Part of this is certainly due to the supernatural nature of her character. After all, Brown’s Eleven possesses powers that are the crux of the entire series, especially in the first season.

Millie Bobby Brown found season 3 to be personally challenging

Aside from being the focus of intense media attention, Brown also dealt with a new, more personal dimension on the show. In season 3, Eleven and Wolfhard’s Mike are in a relationship. And according to the Netflix Instagram account, Brown found this element of the series far more difficult to capture than the technical aspects.

It was way more challenging for me to channel some emotions that I’ve never channeled before, regarding love and boyfriends and things like that. It couldn’t have come at a better time. I find it quite raw and relatable to my real life. I’m going through all that right now as a teenager. Having to do that on screen isn’t probably the easiest thing in the world. But I channel my awkwardness; I channel my vulnerability from my real life to the screen.

The parallels between Eleven’s journey and Brown’s might have taken a greater personal toll on the actor. But it sounds like she wisely used that opportunity to fuel her performance. The end result comes across on screen and underscores just how much these young actors are currently facing.

When will ‘Stranger Things 4’ resume filming?

Fans of Stranger Things are certainly eager to see where the show goes next. And according to The Hollywood Reporter, season 4 could resume shooting as early as September. Given how effects-heavy the show can be, it’s unclear when Netflix would schedule Stranger Things 4 for release, however.

The previous season did leave plenty of plot threads for the next batch of episodes to explore. But fans shouldn’t be in too much of a rush for the show to return. After all, the Duffer brothers have claimed Stranger Things could end after just four or five seasons. As the cast continues to branch out into other projects, season 4 could be the last fans see of Hawkins, Indiana.

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