Executive Producer Shawn Levy, Noah Schnapp, Millie Bobby Brown, and David Harbour reveal details of filming the emotional final Stranger Things season.
Stranger Things has taken the world by storm, but as it hurtles toward its final season, the creative team and stars remain grounded in what Executive Producer Shawn Levy calls the series’ “special sauce”: the perfect, delicate blend of the epic and the intimate.
This final chapter is not just a massive cinematic undertaking; it’s a deeply emotional send-off for characters who have quite literally grown up on screen. Levy described the approaching conclusion as the “goodbye season”. The commitment to crafting a satisfying, character-driven finale has resulted in an on-set atmosphere where the emotions – of both the characters and the actors portraying them – have been “very, very honest and authentic.”
During a recent press conference, Executive Producer Shawn Levy, along with key cast members Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), and David Harbour (Jim Hopper), offered a glimpse into the production of the series’ final installment. They spoke candidly about the monumental scale of the new sets, the crucial development of the beloved Hopper/Eleven familial bond, and the decade-long chemistry that has defined the core ensemble.
Shawn Levy Reveals What He Thinks Makes Stranger Things So Special
The core of the series, as outlined by Shawn Levy, is rooted in its contrasting scales. Shawn Levy explained: “The DNA, the sort of special sauce, I think is the combination of the epic and the intimate. This juxtaposition – a small-town group of friends fighting inter-dimensional evil – has been the engine of the show’s success.”
He elaborated on how the immense, world-saving plots only truly resonate because of the deeply personal connections between the characters. “Without the intimacy, the epic is just sound and fury,” he noted. “But with it, the emotional consequence of these massive events is felt profoundly, making every victory, and every loss, mean so much more.” The final season, according to Levy, will push both ends of this spectrum to their absolute limit.
The Stranger Things Sets & Production Get More & More Impressive
For the actors, the enormity of the production has only amplified over the years. Millie Bobby Brown gave a fascinating account of the physical world the creative team has constructed: “But our sets this year have felt insane. There’s one specific set that I just was kind of in shock that it was even built. And it’s just unbelievable.”
Brown marveled at the level of detail and realism afforded to the performers, noting that the sheer scope of the practical build saves the actors from having to rely solely on their imagination. “And I think that’s the privilege that we as actors get to have, which is just not having to imagine absolutely everything and being able to actually work with a world and space, and not having to imagine much is a joy,” she added.
The Smaller, More Intimate Moments Help The Audience Relate To The Story
On the intimate side, David Harbour passionately defended the smaller, character-focused moments, suggesting that they are the true reward for enduring the massive set pieces. “I much prefer the intimate. And I fight for those rich three to four-page scenes with two people really going at it at the heart of like what’s going [on]—” Harbour’s preference underscores the core theme: despite fighting monsters, the real narrative weight lies in human connection.
He particularly emphasized the importance of the father-daughter dynamic between his character, Jim Hopper, and Eleven. Harbour acknowledged the immense pressure that comes with concluding such a beloved storyline: “I know that the Duffers were like, we really wanna land this plane. And it was really important for me that we land this plane too, because of the millions of people that love Hopper and Eleven and love that bond that they share.” He spoke of his desire to provide a resolution worthy of the audience’s investment in their deeply complicated, beautiful relationship.
Friendship Is At The Core Of Stranger Things
Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, the character whose disappearance started it all, spoke about the unique bond among the young cast members. “I think it’s so crucial to have good chemistry, and that was such a major part of the casting and the chemistry reads that we did back in season one, kind of making sure everyone worked so well together.”
Schnapp credits the off-screen relationship between the actors for allowing the on-screen magic to happen, a testament to the Duffer Brothers’ foresight in casting. “Because we love each other and because we feel comfortable with each other, it allows for moments like that to shine,” he concluded. This synergy is what makes their perilous adventures feel so real to the audience.
Everyone Knowing This Is The Final Season Made It That Much More Emotional
Finally, Levy brought the conversation back to the emotional weight of saying goodbye. The reality of the final season has created a meta-narrative where the actors’ own farewells mirror those of their characters.
Shawn Levy summarized this feeling, stating: “I’d also add that we went into this knowing this was the goodbye season. And so the feelings that were real with us as individuals, knowing this was a farewell emotions were very, very honest and authentic because it’s saying goodbye to these characters and to the experience of making the show after a decade.”
The authenticity of the sadness and the finality, he suggests, will be palpable for the audience.
Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 (Episodes 1-4) is now streaming on Netflix.
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Tessa Smith is a Rotten Tomatoes Tomatometer-approved Film and TV Critic. On Camera personality and TV / Film Critic with 10+ years of experience in video editing, writing, editing, moderating, and hosting.