‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Announcement Busts a Major Rumor Before Haunting Winter Release

For over three and a half years, a state of caffeinated suspense has existed, waiting for Netflix to open the cursed gates of Hawkins once more. The final season of Stranger Things was delayed first by the 2023 Hollywood labor strikes, then by the sheer cinematic ambition of feature-length episodes that apparently takes longer to produce than an actual Demogorgon gestation. In this long void, fans filled the time inventing theories so wild they could qualify for government surveillance, some about Vecna’s redemption arc, others insisting Eddie Munson lives. And as anticipation boils over, it seems one cherished theory is about to get burned.

One of the theories has now been mercilessly by the show’s creators just a few days before the season’s eerie winter arrival.

Netflix debunks this Stranger Things season 5 theory

Fans of Stranger Things had speculated that episodes of the fifth season would each run for approximately two hours. This theory emerged from two main sources: the extended runtimes of season four episodes, with the finale exceeding two hours, and co-creator Ross Duffer’s comment comparing season five to “eight blockbuster movies.” The remark, widely circulated, suggested that each episode could match the length of a feature film. The speculation gained traction on social media, but Ross Duffer debunked this theory through a simple post on his Instagram account, revealing “ACTUAL runtimes.”

Ross Duffer, ever the killjoy of speculation, posted a behind-the-scenes video revealing the actual runtimes for the first four episodes, with the episodes being about an hour long. The theory fans churned for years, making them also prepare sleeping bags for every episode, was thus politely burned, as the episodes, while substantial, fell short of cinematic marathon status.

Nevertheless, the amateur sleuths of Hawkins are undeterred, with numerous theories still in play, awaiting confirmation in Stranger Things^[1] season five.

The ongoing theories of Stranger Things season 5

Fans of Stranger Things continue to conjure ambitious theories through little clues, such as Matthew Modine’s 280-year-old song tease, many of which remain tantalizingly plausible. One popular idea suggests that Vecna’s ultimate goal is to merge the Upside Down with Hawkins, potentially reshaping reality itself to avenge the loss of his childhood happiness. Another theory posits that a new antagonist, possibly drawn from Dungeons & Dragons lore like Asgarath the “world shaper,” could enter the fray to restore cosmic balance, potentially threatening Hawkins and everyone connected to the experiments, including Eleven.^[2]

Time and characters remain fertile grounds for speculation. Some argue that November 6, 1983, is stuck on a loop in the Upside Down, forcing our heroes to untangle a temporal mess. Others predict permanent losses: character deaths, Eleven stripped of her powers, Eddie’s dramatic return, or the reconciliation of Mike and Will. Theories even say that Will Byers’ visions might hold the key to the final confrontation. At last, when season five arrives, all of Hawkins’ mysteries will demand their final reckoning, leaving no theory untested.

Do you think Ross Duffer is just trying to throw fans off the show’s scent? Let us know in the comments!