The creators of Stranger Issues, the Duffer Brothers (Matt and Ross Duffer), revealed how they needed to forestall the producers of the present’s Broadway prequel, The First Shadow, from spoiling season 5. The present first premiered in 2023 at a West Finish theatre (the Phoenix Theatre) in London and made its Broadway debut in New York in 2025.
The First Shadow is an official canon prequel to Netflix’s Stranger Issues, directed by Stephen Daldry. The play was written and created by Katy Trefry, the Duffer Brothers, and Jack Thorne. It focuses on Henry Creel, a youthful model of the collection’ villain, Vecna, and his early days within the fictitious city of Hawkins, Indiana.
The creators of the hit science fiction horror present have been hinting at The First Shadow enjoying an vital function in Stranger Issues season 5. And, consequently, they needed to be very cautious about what the Broadway producers had been allowed to share on stage to keep away from any spoilers for the collection’ ultimate installment.
In an interview with Leisure Weekly, the Duffer Brothers mentioned the fragile steadiness between the play and the collection. Ross referred to it as a “little connective tissue between the seasons.” Nevertheless, the creators made it clear that the viewers would not want to observe The First Shadow to know the ultimate chapter.
Matt mentioned that Stranger Issues season 5 will present crucial components of the play. “A number of the stuff that is lined within the Broadway present is roofed within the ultimate season, as properly,” he defined. He revealed that that is additionally why they needed to block a number of of the play’s producers’ concepts. “Actually we needed to block the Broadway present producers loads from placing in an excessive amount of materials that we had been gonna have in season 5 as a result of we didn’t need it to be too spoilery.”
Stranger Issues season 5 might be launched in three components on Netflix. The separate installments will premiere on November 26, 2025 (half one), December 25, 2025 (half two), and December 31, 2025 (half three).