Stranger Things season 4 photos reveal older cast, ‘horror movie’ vibes

Nearly three years after waiting, finally the premier of Stranger ThingsThe release of season 4 is now (almost!) within reach. As the May 27 release of the penultimate season of the Duffer Brothers’ sci-fi horror drama draws closer, Netflix has released a slew of first look photos of the upcoming two-parter installment of Eleven, Mike, and co.’s adventures.

This is six months in the aftermath of the Battle against the Mind Flayer at Season 3 Stranger ThingsSeason 4 will see our heroes spread across four locations: from windswept, snowy Russia to sunny California. A new episode will air on the Krista Smith, Present Company podcast, series creators Ross and Matt Duffer stated that season 4 would have a much darker, “horror movie” vibe compared to earlier seasons, citing the characters’ age and subsequent growth since the series first premiered.

Image by Netflix

Image by Netflix

Image by Netflix

“When we pitched it to Netflix all those years ago, we pitched it as the kids are … The GooniesIn E.T.,” Ross says. “That’s their storyline. The adults, however, are not. JawsAnd then there are Close Encounters. Nightmare on Elm StreetOder Halloween. But, this year, we don’t have the kids. We can’t do The Goonies anymore. And so, suddenly, we’re leaning much harder into that horror movie territory that we love. It was fun to make that change.”

Image by Netflix

Image by Netflix

Image by Netflix

There have been many changes since the premiere season. Stranger ThingsAs these photos from season 4 show, it is. Jim Harper, who was imprisoned at a Russian camp after his (attempted) heroic sacrifice at the close of season 3. The kids look dramatically different. OlderMike is wearing a mullet. Joyce seems to be trapped in the winter forest with conspiracy theorist Brett Gelman. However, there are still some things we can do. Dungeons & Dragons!

It was announced in February. Stranger ThingsSeason 4 will split in two volumes. The first volume arrives on May 27, and the second on July 1. Though it’s unknown yet how the season will be split it half, we do know that the it will consist of at least “nine scripts,” making for the biggest and longest season in the show’s history so far. The Duffer Brothers teased this while Stranger ThingsThe fifth season of this series is coming to an end, but the greater universe will still be available.