USA TODAY spoke with Stranger Things stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo at the final Season 5 premiere about how they are wrapping up this period of their lives.
‘Stranger Things’ cast is thrilled after seeing photos from season 1
The cast of Stranger Things reminisce about Season 1 and share their heartfelt reactions to old photos.
LOS ANGELES – Love and nostalgia reached a crescendo at the final Stranger Things premiere as an ensemble of young actors celebrated the beginning of the end for the sci-fi behemoth that took life to a whole new dimension.
Actress Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) walked hand-in-hand with co-star Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield) on the black carpet at the Hollywood premiere of Season 5, Volume 1 (4 episodes), which aired on Netflix on Thanksgiving eve, on Thursday, November 6th, at the historic TCL Chinese Theater.
The core four from the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), and Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson) also strutted the carpet, posing for photos together and waving to fans and reporters, while Schnapp tried to keep cool (literally) with a portable fan.
Following the first batch of episodes, fans will have to wait until Christmas for “Volume 2” to binge three more episodes. In the end, everything will come to a bittersweet conclusion in the series finale (scheduled for theatrical release) on New Year’s Eve.
As the cast headed to the press line, the actors, all now in their early 20s, were greeted by something to USA TODAY that was perhaps even more disturbing than the villain Vecna herself. It was a photo of the group as young teenagers (ranging in age from 11 to 14).
This photo, taken by a USA TODAY photographer in 2016, shows Brown, Schnapp, Natalie Dyer, McLaughlin, Wolfhard and Matarazzo around the time Season 1 of Stranger Things premiered. Braun, Schnapp, Wolfhard, and Matarazzo stopped by for a chat, and I asked them what memories the photo brought back to them as they prepared to say goodbye to the Upside Down.
Stranger Things main cast members react to 2016 photos
Some were stunned by their fashion choices from 10 years ago, while others were overwhelmed with emotion and nostalgia. The suit-wearing Matarasso, now 23, laughed at his 2016 fashion choice of unbuttoned plaid shirt layered over a graphic T-shirt.
“This is tough… tough in the costume department. I don’t know what they decided to do there,” Mataraso told USA TODAY. “I also tweaked my haircut a bit.”
Brown, a 21-year-old businesswoman and mother of one, answered simply: “My reaction is, who let her go out wearing those overalls?” But everyone has to start somewhere. Brown went from her classic denim overalls to walking the carpet in an elegant black Rodarte dress with feathers and sheer tulle.
Meanwhile, Wolfhard and Schnapp reflected on the core memories formed at the beginning of the show. Looking at the photo, Schnapp, now 21, said, “I’m so sad. I can’t believe it’s over.” “I love you all dearly. We are family for life.”
Production on Stranger Things 5 wrapped in December, but the cast is still figuring out what it means to leave behind a life-changing chapter.
Wolfhard, now 22, said, “I feel like I haven’t said a complete goodbye yet. I feel like there are waves in waves. But it’s really nice to be here with everyone and experience some semblance of closure. Even if it doesn’t really feel like an end, we all still talk a lot.”
And now it’s time to head to the premiere of Season 5, Episode 1. Participants and members of the press were instructed to keep their cell phones in sealed pouches to avoid leaking the plot. But the energy was palpable and emotions ran high, especially for the show’s creators.
The Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, addressed viewers before the premiere episode and talked about their difficult journey to bring this show to life.
It’s all about the love between Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbor
The final Stranger Things premiere was nearly controversial when reports surfaced in the Daily Mail on November 1 that Brown allegedly made harassment and bullying allegations against her on-screen father, Harbor (Jim Hopper), before filming began. USA TODAY reached out to representatives for Brown and Haber at the time.
But at the Nov. 7 premiere, the on-screen daughter and father duo presented a united front, conveying nothing but admiration for each other as cellphones and cameras measured their every move.
The Duffer brothers also addressed the matter in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that night, with Matt saying, “Obviously we don’t go into personal matters on set.”
“But we’ve been doing this work for 10 years with this cast, and at this point they’re family and we care deeply about them,” he continued. “So there’s nothing more important than creating a set where everyone feels safe and happy.”
Brown posted photos on Instagram from the premiere on a merry-go-round, one of which was a photo of her and Harbor.
Priah Ferguson recalls her final scene with brother Caleb McLaughlin in Stranger Things
Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair) recalled the last moments filmed with her on-screen brother McLaughlin. “It’s definitely bittersweet and emotional, but I’m excited to see what’s new and what’s to come,” she said.
Ferguson also teased future interactions with new characters joining the final season. Although he cannot say much about future developments, he said he expects the intensity of Season 5 to shock viewers.
Audiences go wild for Barb after Season 1’s death
Fans who attended the premiere cheered as they watched fan-favorite characters from season 1 walk the red carpet. “Barb! Barb! Barb!” Cheers could be heard throughout the Los Angeles premiere as Shannon Purser arrived.
The 28-year-old actress said she’ll never get used to the constant reaction from fans to Barb, who died in episode two with only 25 lines of script.
“It’s so weird, I can’t find a better word for it,” Purser said. “I never thought she’d have such a huge impact and that 10 years later we’d still be talking about Barb. I’m so excited. I just think of myself as an 18-year-old on set. She’ll be surprised that this is where we are now.”
On-screen dad Joe Crest watched his ‘Stranger Things’ kids grow up
Actor Joe Crest, who plays Mike and Nancy’s father, Mr. Ted Wheeler, has had a front row seat to watch all of his children grow up, while rising to fame at a young age.
“Actually, I’m proud of them, like real fathers, but the way they handled everything, like when they were these little kids in season one,” he says. “They all rose into the stratosphere of stardom, and when they came back the next year and ever since, their personalities hadn’t changed one bit. That feels good to me.”
Brett Gelman talks about the honor of working with Winona Ryder
Brett Gelman (Murray Bauman) loved working with the entire cast of Stranger Things, but working with legendary actress Winona Ryder was a particular highlight for him.
“Working with Winona Ryder was insane. It’s crazy,” he says. “We’re basically the same age, but he’s someone I’ve idolized since I was much younger.”
Gellman added, “But she became famous at a really young age. To go on an adventure like we did last season with this person I grew up with is insane.”
