Netflix has confirmed the filming date for Stranger Things season 4 and, surprisingly, shortly after the final episode of the third season.
In a blog post on Tudum, Netflix's dedicated news site, it was revealed that Stranger Things 4 would take place six months after the battle of Starcourt Mall. Since the last episode of season 3 took place in the summer of 1985 , the fourth season of Stranger Things should take place in the winter of 1985, just after New Year's Day 1986.
Interestingly, the time jump between seasons 3 and 4 will also be the shortest among entries in the hit Netflix show. A full year had passed in-universe between seasons 1 and 2 of Stranger Things, while there was a nine-month gap separating seasons 2 and 3.
Although Stranger Things Season 4 is split into two volumes, it is highly unlikely that there will be a time jump between Season 1 Volumes 2 and 4. As the Duffer Brothers, the creators of Stranger Things, revealed in a letter to fans after the season. 4 release date announcement, the upcoming season has only been split into two due to the amount of work required to complete it. So don't expect too much time to pass between Volumes 1 and 2 of Season 4.
After a long wait, Netflix has finally revealed (Thursday, February 17) when Stranger Things season 4 will arrive. Season 1 Volume 4 will be released on Friday, May 27, and Volume 2 will be released six weeks later on Friday, July 1. However, since Season 4 contains nine episodes, it is unclear which volume will contain five episodes and which will contain four.
Analysis: what can we expect from the plot of Stranger Things 4?
Spoilers for the Stranger Things season 3 finale follow.(*4*)
There is little concrete information about the plot so far, but Netflix released a brief plot synopsis after the Stranger Things season 4 release date was announced.
“Six months have passed since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins,” the summary reads. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends is separated for the first time, and navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made it any easier. At this most vulnerable time, a horrifying new supernatural threat emerges, presenting a horrific mystery that, if solved, could finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down."
It doesn't reveal much, but we do know a few things about Stranger Things season 4.
For one thing, it will take place in four different locations, a first for Netflix's supernatural horror series. These scenarios have already been revealed in the Stranger Things season 4 trailers, with the United States and Russia being the two countries in which the show's fourth season takes place. The specific locations are California, Creel House (Hawkins, Indiana), Hawkins Laboratory (Hawkins, Indiana), and an unnamed Russian prison based on the Kamchatka Peninsula.
With Stranger Things 4 taking place in a variety of locations, this will be the first time that key characters from the show will also be apart. As fans will remember, the season 3 finale saw the Byers family move from Hawkins to move to California. Judging by the second of the four official season 4 posters, Eleven/Jane Hopper will leave her surrogate family to uncover the mysteries of Hawkins' lab at some point in season 4.
Meanwhile, Detective Jim Hopper, whose death was teased in the season 3 finale, was shown alive and well in the first sneak peek of season 4. Finally, the rest of the Stranger Things gang, including Dustin, Lucas, Steve and Nancy are ready to explore the Creel House and the possible Upside Down secrets it holds.
Based on cast quotes over the last 18 months, the show's fourth season looks set to be the scariest entry yet. There's bound to be a lot of emotional heartbeat going on, so you better have a pillow ready (to hide behind) and a box of tissues ready for when Season 4 drops later this year.