Vecna is back in the new ‘Stranger Things 5’ trailer: When does it premiere in the USA? Dates and cast

After nine years and four blockbuster seasons, Stranger Things is preparing to close its story with one last, epic chapter. The newly released trailer for Season 5 brings back Vecna — the terrifying villain who left Hawkins in chaos — and hints at the most intense battle yet.

The Duffer Brothers, who created the hit Netflix series, have promised a finale that starts at full throttle. “I think what’s unique about this season is that it starts a little bit in chaos because our heroes ultimately lost at the end of Season 4,” Ross Duffer told Tudum.

“We usually set up their normal life and how they’re going about school, and then we introduce the supernatural element. But in this case, this season is sprinting from the start,” he added.

Where ‘Stranger Things’ left off

When Season 4 premiered in 2022, fans saw Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) nearly destroy Hawkins before vanishing. The town is now under military quarantine, and government agents continue their hunt for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).

As cracks between the real world and the Upside Down widen, monsters begin to cross over — and chaos takes hold. According to Ross Duffer, the opening of Season 5 will dive straight into that turmoil, showing our heroes already fighting to survive.

“Nothing in Hawkins is normal anymore”

Matt Duffer adds that the familiar rhythm of everyday life is gone. “Nothing in Hawkins is normal anymore,” he said. The group’s only mission is to find and destroy Vecna once and for all — a goal that sets up a massive, emotional showdown.

“The final battle is looming,” reads the official synopsis. “And with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time.”

The trailer offers just a glimpse of that climactic war: collapsing streets, glowing rifts, and Eleven standing at the center of it all.

When does ‘Stranger Things 5’ premiere in the US?

Netflix has confirmed that the fifth and final season will be released in three parts.

• Part 1: Four episodes — premieres November 26, 2025
• Part 2: Three episodes — drops on Christmas Day
• Final Episode: The epic finale arrives on New Year’s Eve

All episodes will stream starting at 5 p.m. PT / 8 p.m. ET exclusively on Netflix U.S.

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