Netflix’s Stranger Things cast now includes Linda Hamilton for season 5

Vecna has just been given a new formidable foe. Stranger Things 5,Linda Hamilton has joined the cast in the show’s fifth and final season. The announcement came out of Tudum, Netflix’s annual fan event, and was made by Hamilton’s Terminator co-star Arnold Schwarzenegger.

While we didn’t get any details on her character, Hamilton did reveal she’s a fan of the show, joking that she doesn’t “know how to be a fangirl and an actress at the same time.”

There’s no doubt that her legendary action (and her incredible arms) will help in the struggle for the destiny of the entire world. Of course, all this assumes Hamilton is playing a good guy — there’s plenty of bad guy options she could play (and knock out of the park) in the battle against Vecna. Eleven and her crew (Millie Bobby Brown and company) were fighting Hawkins (as it was nearly destroyed) while Vecna, played by Jamie Campbell Bower, continued to try and merge the Upside Down and the normal world. The final battle has yet to fully begin, meaning Hamilton’s character — whoever it is — could join either side.

It’s likely that fans will have to wait for a while before finding out. Although season 4 premiered in two parts in 2022, there’s still no official release date for Stranger Things The season 5

In the meantime, fans can revisit Hamilton’s ’80s filmography to better understand the sheer amount of badass she’s bringing to the table. If they finish that before the new season is out — which could be a while, unfortunately — then there’s plenty of other ’80s stars who have joined Stranger ThingsThey could also catch up with the back catalogs of artists they admire. Beyond that, we’re all just killing time until Stranger Things 5, (or the universe’s cartoon spin-off) finally debut.