If you've finished binging Wednesday and you've already seen Scream VI multiple times, you might be itching for a new Jenna Ortega project to watch. Well, we won't have to wait much longer for new images and clips because her newest movie, Beetlejuice 2, is already filming! Not only do we get to return to the wacky world of the 1988 film, but we also get to see Ortega as the daughter of Winona Ryder's Lydia, which might just be our favorite casting decision of the year. Here's everything we know about the fall movie.
What is Beetlejuice 2 about?
Image via Warner Bros.
We finally have some plot details thanks to The Hollywood Reporter! Winona Ryder's Lydia brings her daughter Astrid back to Winter River, and when Astrid finds the town scale model, she accidentally opens a portal to the afterlife. Now, both worlds are being thrown into chaos!
We're excited for Beetlejuice 2 to be another classic Tim Burton movie for one reason — he wanted to go "back to the basics." "I really enjoyed it," Tim Burton told The Independent. "I tried to strip everything and go back to the basics of working with good people and actors and puppets. It was kind of like going back to why I liked making movies.”
Movies like The Nightmare Before Christmas, Corpse Bride, and (of course) the first Beetlejuice are cemented in pop culture history because of how stripped back they are. Considering Beetlejuice 2 features a lot of the same actors as the first movie, we're expecting it to continue the story of family and coming of age.
The First Look At "Beetlejuice 2"
Image via Warner Bros.
We finally have our first official look at Winona Ryder and Jenna Ortega in Beetlejuice Beetlejuice! Winona's Lydia is just as emo as she's always been (thank goodness), and I love to see the contrast between Lydia and Jenna Ortega's Astrid. Even though Astrid has similar tones and edge thanks to the dark overcoat and boots, I really like that we can see colorful stripes peeking out from underneath her coat. Now the real question is — whose funeral are they at?!
The first teaser gives us even more of an idea of what to expect from Beetlejuice 2. It's giving small town coming-of-age, it's giving Halloween, it's giving family drama. I can't wait!
And at CinemaCon 2024, Tim Burton said that coming back for Beetlejuice 2 was like “a big weird family reunion” (via The Hollywood Reporter). While a sequel to the original movie has been in talked about, actor Michael Keaton says this version of the script “finally it got right.” He also added: “I have to tell you this though, it’s really f*cking good.”
Image via Warner Bros.
We also have a look at Michael Keaton's Beetlejuice, who clearly hasn't changed a bit. I'm not sure what antics he'll rope Astrid and Lydia into this time, but I can't wait to find out.
Is Jenna Ortega going to be in Beetlejuice 2?
Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Yes, Jenna Ortega will star in Beetlejuice 2! Jenna Ortega will star as the daughter of Winona Ryder's Lydia, and we're totally expecting this "It" girl to lead the film. In an interview with Vanity Fair, she reveals that her character's name is Astrid — which is brand new info!
"She’s weird, but in a different way and not in the way you’d assume," she says. "The relationship between Lydia and Astrid, [is] really strange because it’s a lot of catching up and putting the pieces together of what’s gone on in Lydia’s life since, which is nice, I think, for anybody who loves the character and is excited to see her again."
While Astrid isn't Lydia's polar opposite, Jenna does reveal we'll see them butt heads. "I wouldn’t say [Astrid's] bright and sunny at all," she continues. "She doesn’t go to the opposite end of the spectrum, but any kid who becomes a teenager wants to be removed from their parents. I think they instantly just fight whatever it is that their parent loves."
This leaked first look features Ryder and Ortega filming in Hertfordshire, England. You can see that Winona Ryder still has her iconic hairstyle from the original film, and that Jenna Ortega is wearing a wedding dress. We have so many questions!! Even though Ortega's dress is white instead of red or black, you can see that there is some peachy pink tulle in her dress. Even if her character seems different from Lydia, the two might just be more similar than we expect.
Who else is in the Beetlejuice 2 cast?
Image via Warner Bros.
In addition to Jenna Ortega and Winona Ryder, we'll see Michael Keaton, Willem Dafoe, and Justin Theroux. Tim Burton will direct, Seth Grahame-Smith and David Katzenberg are producing, and Mike Alfred Gough and Miles Millar have written the script.
When is the Beetlejuice 2 release date?
Image via Warner Bros.
The Warner Bros. movie is scheduled for September 6, 2024. When the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes began, the movie had less than two days of filming left. “I feel grateful we got what we got. Literally, it was a day and a half,” Tim Burton told The Independentat the time. “We know what we have to do. It is 99 per cent done.”
Tim Burton confirmed in late November, via Instagram, that the movie had finished production: "Just finished shooting Beetlejuice. Thank you to everyone involved." Beetlejuice 2 is going to be the perfect fall movie, if you ask us.
What is Beetlejuice about?
Image via Warner Bros.
After Barbara and Adam die in a car accident, they wind up as ghosts unable to leave their home. When the Deetzes move into the home, Barbara and Adam try to scare them away, but only end up making things worse when they attract trickster spirit Beetlejuice. Watch the Beetlejuice trailer here!
Why can't you say Beetlejuice 3 times?
Image via Warner Bros.
When you say "Beetlejuice" three times, it summons the titular spirit to you. Be warned! Life is already crazy enough without the help of the supernatural, thank you very much.
Will there be a Beetlejuice 3?
Image via Warner Bros.
We don't have an official word on a third Beetlejuice movie yet (we haven't even seen the second one!), but if the new poster is any indication, I think we're totally getting a trilogy. The official name of Beetlejuice 2, Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, means that we're getting closer to the original film's iconic phrase. You know, where you say Beetlejuice three times in a row? If we do get a third film, it would be incredible if it was called Beetlejuice Beetlejuice Beetlejuice!
How old was Winona Ryder in Beetlejuice?
Image via Warner Bros.
Winona Ryder turned 16 years old during the filming of Beetlejuice. Jenna Ortega is already 21, but we wouldn't be surprised if her character is the same age as Lydia in the original.
Follow us on Twitter for more movie news and let us know what you think of the Beetlejuice 2 cast in the comments!
Lead photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
This post has been updated.
If you're a rom-com fan who also can't get enough of Jane Austen's books, you've probably seen the Bridget Jones movies. The story (which is loosely based on Pride & Prejudice) follows the titular Bridget Jones, a 30-something who sets out on a mission to improve herself over the course of a year while she looks for a partner. And, in true romantic movie form, she keeps a diary the whole time. Not only can we rewatch the original trilogy as many times as we want, but we're also getting a fourth movie! Here's everything we know about Bridget Jones 4.
Will there be a Bridget Jones 4?
Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
Yes, Bridget Jones 4 is on its way! Deadline confirmed that the new movie, officially titled Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy, is on its way. The film will follow Bridget in her early 50s as she juggles motherhood with all the other areas of her life. We don't know much else quite yet, but if it's anything like the rest of the series, Bridget Jones 4 is sure to have plenty of heart *and* humor.
When is Bridget Jones 4 coming out?
Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy is scheduled to premiere on February 14, 2025. Romantic comedies are always the perfect choice for a Valentine's Day movie night, whether you're with your partner or celebrating with all your Galentines! Even though we have quite a way to go before we can watch the new movie, you can binge all three of the other Bridget Jones movies on Max now!
Is Mark Darcy in Bridget Jones 4?
Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
There's no word on whether Colin Firth's Mark Darcy will return for Bridget Jones 4, but never say never! We do know that Renée Zellweger will be back as Bridget Jones, and that we'll also see Hugh Grant return as Daniel Cleaver and Emma Thompson as Dr. Rawling. The movie also stars Chiwetel Ejiofor and The White Lotus & One Day star Leo Woodall.
Is there a fourth Bridget Jones book?
Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
Yes, there's a fourth Bridget Jones book, but it might surprise you to know the order of the titles is different than the order of the movies! Helen Fielding published the Bridget Jones's Diary column in the British newspaper The Independent, then published a novel version in 1996. The first book was followed by The Edge of Reason in 1999, Mad About the Boy in 2013, and Bridget Jones's Baby: The Diaries in 2016.
The film series is made up of Bridget Jones's Diary in 2001, Bridget Jones: The Edge of Reason in 2004, Bridget Jones's Baby in 2016, and Bridget Jones: Mad About the Boy in 2025.
Who was the father of Bridget Jones baby?
Image via Giles Keyte/Universal Pictures
At the end of the Bridget Jones's Babymovie, we learn that Mark Darcy is the father of Bridget Jones's baby, and the couple ends up getting married!
Are you excited to see Leo Woodall in Bridget Jones 4? What do you hope to see in the movie? Follow us on Facebook for more pop culture news!
Blake Lively is as multifaceted as they come. She's an actress who has starred in titles like Gossip Girl, A Simple Favor, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants (plus the upcoming adaptation of It Ends With Us). She's the founder of Betty Buzz, which has a variety of non-alcoholic mixers that taste just as good on their own as they do with liquor. And, she's also a mom. Lively has been outspoken about protecting her children from the paparazzi, making rare public appearances with them for events like her husband Ryan Reynolds' Hollywood Walk Of Fame Ceremonyandcozy date nights.
When Lively and Reynolds seemingly announced the birth of their fourth child last year, we melted. Here's everything you need to know about Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's kids.
Is Blake Lively in any of Ryan Reynolds' movies?
Image via Paramount Pictures
Yes, Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have been in the same movies! After meeting during the production of Green Lantern, Blake Lively has a role as an imaginary friend in Ryan Reynolds' new movie IF. In the film, Blake plays a kitten, and it looks like the child who dreamed her up also loves the ocean! This spring movie follows Ryan Reynolds' character and his neighbor Bea, who set out to save all the imaginary friends. It looks like such a fun watch and I can't wait to see the role Blake plays!
The movie also stars director John Krasinski, Cailey Fleming, Fiona Shaw, Alan Kim, Liza Colón-Zayas, Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Louis Gossett Jr., and Steve Carell.
How do Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively prioritize their kids?
Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Michael Kors
Blake Lively recently joined an episode of her Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants' costar Amber Tamblyn's Further Adoand revealed the one unbreakable rule she made with Ryan Reynolds.
“When Ryan and I got together, we made a rule not to work at the same time,” she says. “So that we could always prioritize our personal life...That takes working really hard when we're not. Just like financial planning and sustaining that; it takes balance.”
I love that Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds are serious about their family life, and that they have identified what works for them and are sticking with it.
Is Taylor Swift friends with Blake Lively's kids?
Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Yes, Taylor Swift loves Blake Lively's kids! At the Philadelphia show of the Eras Tour, in which Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively attended, Taylor said hello from the stage.
One funny detail about Ryan Reynolds' kids that I love is when he mentioned the girls finally realized Taylor Swift was a popstar. "I think what's most exciting for them is that for the longest time they just thought Taylor's just like an aunt, like a friend of Mommy and Daddy that's very, very close, almost family," he tellsThe Jess Cagle Show. "And then they went to a concert one day and were like, 'Ohhhhh, this isn't a hobby.'"
For Super Bowl Sunday, Blake Lively joined Taylor Swift to support beau (and KC Chiefs tight end) Travis Kelce. "Last week I left my kids for the first time ever," she says on Instagram. "I took pictures upside down and had no clue. I treated a friendship bracelet like a Flat Stanley for my husband like I didn’t realize it wasn’t ‘07. I borrowed more jewelry than the skeleton in the Pirates of the Caribbean ride. And I went clubbing. Now I know what my episode of TheTwilight Zone would look like."
How has motherhood affected Blake Lively?
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Staff/Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images;Art by Claire Shadomy/B+C
Blake Lively recently opened up about how Ryan Reynolds and she monitor screen safety for their kids, which is definitely something top-of-mind in 2024. “This is not an ad. I get nothing out of this. I just love @tappityapp,” she said of the STEM-focused educational app. “It’s engaging, informative, fun and they care about safety."
She also jokes that she's learning new things right along with her daughters! But, no matter how educational or fun an app is, Blake Lively also emphasizes the importance of engaging with her kids' devices: "I’m always triple checking any kids app constantly for safety because that’s my responsibly not an app’s, but I do LOVE this one.”
Despite its fun and funny moments, the actress has admitted being a mom is hard, but she did it with her signature dry sense of humor. “BettyBooze at your service," she wrote in an Instagram Story announcing the new brand. "These are recipes I’ve been making for loved ones for years. But I have 4 kids now. And I’m tired. So here they are. In a can."
However, Lively absolutely loves motherhood, and says in a 2022 interview with Forbes that having children has made her feel more comfortable in her own skin. "Once I had children, that just became even more profound because my time was even more precious, but also I think having children for me made me feel so much more in my skin," she says. "I never felt more myself or at ease in my own body or more confident — not to say that there aren't a bevy of insecurities coming at me a million times a day, but I just feel incredibly settled."
Speaking with People in 2021, Lively also explains how important it is that her children see her accomplish things outside the home. "I want to be as present of a mother as humanly possible and I want them to feel my presence, but I also think the best way to be the best mother is to show them that you can have a life and have a passion and have an identity outside of just being a mother," Lively says.
While she acknowledges that motherhood is all-encompassing, and it looks different for everyone, she knows that having your own identity is very important. "Teaching them that they can maintain themselves and that everything is possible [is crucial]," she adds.
How many children do Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have?
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's children are four girls. They welcomed their third daughter in 2019, making this new addition to the family their fourth kid.
When did Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds have their daughters?
Photo by Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for Gabrielle's Angel Foundation
Blake Lively's children were all born in the last 10 years. Blake Lively's kids' names are James, Inez, Betty, and a fourth baby whose name they haven't announced yet. She gave birth to James in 2014, while Inez was born in 2016. Lively gave birth to Betty in 2019 and their fourth baby in February of 2023. I'm hoping that we might find out Ryan Reynolds' new baby's name in honor of her first birthday!
Why did Blake Lively name her daughter James?
Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images
The couple decided to name their daughter James after Reynolds' late father. While the name connects both James and Reynolds to his father, it also gives Lively the chance to bond with her daughter over having historically male names. "I liked having a boy's name," Lively said on Good Morning Americain 2015. "I thought I'd pass it on."
Their third daughter Betty's name is a tribute to Lively's late father. We didn't know the name of the couple's third baby until Taylor Swift used all three names in her 2020 album folklore. Swift also used James' voice at the beginning of her 2017 track "Gorgeous"! Does that mean we'll hear one of Ryan Reynolds' children in Reputation (Taylor's Version)? I hope so!
What has Ryan Reynolds said about raising their kids?
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Per People, Ryan Reynolds has made it clear he and Blake are wholly invested in the kids' daily lives. The doting husband and father enjoys the moments of "walking them to school and walking them back" as it deepens their bond. More than anything, Ryan and Blake's main goal is to make sure they teach their kids how to be introspective with Ryan saying, "...that's the thing we sort of hang our hat on the most is self-awareness with our kids."
However, that doesn't mean Blake and Ryan don't absolutely love being parents. "We're very excited [and] we wouldn't do this four times if we didn't love it," he says in an interview with CNBC's Power Lunch. "Everybody's doing great. Everybody's actually doing fantastic. I think if we hadn't figured it out by now, I think we'd be in deep, deep trouble."
"It's a zoo over here," he jokes. "This is my office here, this is where I'll probably — to be honest, I'll probably spend the rest of my life in here."
We love how much energy Ryan and Blake are pouring into their kids. It's always beautiful when parents are able to be present with their kids and teach them how to be present with themselves. Ryan Reynolds has also mentioned how having daughters "has been such a ride." Since he comes from a family of all boys, having daughters is something that was beyond his wildest dreams! “I love being a girl dad,” Ryan tells Access. “I have three daughters, which I never in a million years would imagine.”
He mentioned his newest daughter in June of 2023, when he announced his new series Bedtime Stories. "The idea for a show made to help everyone fall asleep was born the same day as my fourth child," he says on Instagram.
Did Blake Lively have a 4th baby?
Photo by Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for American Cinematheque
Blake Lively posted a pic on Super Bowl Sunday showing what appears to be a post-baby body with the caption "Been busy."
Lively confirmed her fourth pregnancy in September 2022 when she arrived at her Forbes event in NYC cradling a baby bump and by posting her own personal photos on Instagramhoping that "the 11 guys waiting outside [her] home for a 🦄 sighting will leave [her] alone."
What gender is Ryan and Blakes 4th child?
Image via Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's newest baby, who was born in February of 2023, is a girl! Reynolds explained on the Today Show that they "never find out" until the baby is born, and whether they decide to reveal it is totally up to them. So, does Ryan Reynolds have a son? So far, not yet, but I'm a firm believer in never say never ;).
What is the name of Blake Lively's 4th baby?
Photo by Pascal Le Segretain/Getty Images
Since Taylor Swift used the Blake Lively's kids names in folklore, Swifties think they've guessed Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' new baby's name.
"Calling it now Blake Lively & Ryan Reynolds baby is going to be named Daisy Mae," Kaitlyn Kersten tweeted after the release of Taylor Swift's Midnights in October 2022 (the name is mentioned in "You're On Your Own Kid.") While we don't have official word on what Ryan Reynolds' new baby name is, we do think that James, Inez, Betty, and Daisy sound great together!
Do Blake and Ryan have nannies?
Image via Jamie McCarthy / Staff
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds' children don't have a nanny. "I feel like I could sometimes have a bit of a short fuse, but there's just been this weirdly endless supply of patience," Ryan told GQ in 2015. "I have no problem waking up five times in the middle of the night and changing diapers, and as exhausted as you get, I have this stupid grin on my face all the time."
How long have Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively been married?
Photo by Steven Ferdman/Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively have been married for 11 years. The couple got married in 2012 at a former slave plantation in South Carolina, a location that the couple is "unreservedly sorry for," Reynolds told Fast Company in 2020.
How did Blake and Ryan meet?
Image via François Duhamel/DC Comics/Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds met on the set of their film Green Lantern in 2010. After they filmed the movie, they ended up going out with other people, until a train ride changed everything! “Next thing you know, she was going to Boston, and I was going to Boston,” Ryan says on an episode of the SmartLess podcast. “So we got on a train and rode together and then, you know, I was just begging her to sleep with me.” Their relationship quickly evolved to the one we know and love today!
Was Blake Lively married before Ryan Reynolds?
Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images
Ryan Reynolds is Blake Lively's first husband, but before they got married, the actress dated her Gossip Girl costar Penn Padgley and also reportedly dated Leonardo DiCaprio. Ryan Reynolds was married to MCU star Scarlett Johansson from 2008 to 2010.
Who is Blake Lively's half sister?
Photo by Christopher Polk/Getty Images for People's Choice Awards
Blake Lively's half-sister is Robyn Lively. Robyn also works in Hollywood, just like Blake's brother Eric Lively and brother-in-law Bart Johnson.
Check out our email newsletter for the latest celebrity news and trending content, and check back here for the latest news on Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively's kids!
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This story has been updated.
After we binge watch all the best fresh and inspiring spring movies, and all the summer movies that capture the colorful, carefree nature of warmer months, it's time for fall movies! And the best part about these 2024 movies is, without a doubt, their casts. This year's fall flicks have some seriously big names attached to them (Pedro Pascal! Paul Mescal! Lady Gaga!), and they promise to be some of the best titles we've seen this year. Here are the most-anticipated fall movies to add to your watchlist in 2024.
Beetlejuice Beetlejuice — In Theaters September 6, 2024
Image via Warner Bros. Entertainment
This follow-up to Tim Burton's original Beetlejuice stars Jenna Ortega as Astrid, the daughter of Winona Ryder's iconic character Lydia. We don't have too many plot details about this fall movie, but considering Jenna promises Astrid is weird, it's safe to assume the movie plot will be just as strange as the original.
Beetlejuice 2 hits theaters September 6, 2024 and stars Jenna Ortega, Winona Ryder, Michael Keaton, Willem Dafoe, and Justin Theroux.
Transformers One — In Theaters September 13, 2024
Image via Paramount Pictures
Given the success of Barbie and the latest Transformers movie (not to mention the fact we're getting Polly Pocket and Sims movies too!), toy-themed films will always be a good idea. This fall movie serves as an origin story between two characters we know and love — Optimus Prime and Megatron — and traces how they went from friends to enemies.
Transformers One is in theaters September 13 and stars Scarlett Johansson, Chris Hemsworth, Brian Tyree Henry, Jon Hamm, Laurence Fishburne, and Keegan-Michael Key.
The Wild Robot — In Theaters September 20, 2024
Image via Universal Pictures
Roz is a robot who gets shipwrecked on a deserted island. In an effort to adapt to its surroundings, Roz begins to form relationships with the animals it meets — including an orphaned (and very cute) baby goose. Watch The Wild Robot trailer here.
You can watch The Wild Robot in theaters September 20. The fall movie stars Lupita Nyong’o, Pedro Pascal, Catherine O’Hara, Bill Nighy, Matt Berry, Kit Connor, Stephanie Hsu, Mark Hamill, and Ving Rhames.
Joker: Folie à Deux — In theaters October 4, 2024
Image via Warner Bros. Entertainment
Harley Quinn is back, and this time she's played by Lady Gaga (when can we get a reunion with Margot Robbie à la Spiderman: No Way Home?). Lady Gaga will star opposite Joaquin Phoenix's Joker and based on the first shots from the film, I'm going to be on the edge of my seat the entire time.
Joker 2 hits theaters October 4 and stars Lady Gaga, Joaquin Phoenix, Zazie Beetz, Brendan Gleeson, Catherine Keener, Jacob Lofland, and Harry Lawtey.
Venom: The Last Dance — In theaters October 25, 2024
"Venom: Let Their Be Carnage" image via Sony Pictures Releasing
Speaking of Spider-Man, we're getting another chapter in the Venom saga with Venom: The Last Dance. We know (thanks to the end of Venom 2) that this movie series has hopped on the multiverse train — and that Venom now knows about Peter Parker. This does not bode well for our friendly neighborhood Spider-Man.
Venom 3 hits theaters October 25 and stars Tom Hardy, Juno Temple, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and Clark Backo.
Gladiator 2 — In Theaters November 22, 2024
Image via Universal Pictures/Paramount Pictures
Paul Mescal headlines this huge blockbuster as Lucius, the son of the late Maximus (played by Russell Crowe in the original 2000 film), opposite Joseph Quinn and Pedro Pascal (who we'll see next year in Fantastic Four). So, I see your iconic "Are you not entertained?" and I raise you, "How are you not entertained?"
Gladiator 2 hits theaters November 22 and stars Paul Mescal, Joseph Quinn, Pedro Pascal, Denzel Washington, Connie Nielsen, and Derek Jacobi.
Moana 2 — In Theaters November 27, 2024
Image via Disney
This new Disney movie will see the return of Moana and Maui as they go on a brand new adventure. I didn't know anything could be crazier than returning the Heart of Te Fiti, but Moana 2 will see these beloved characters go on a quest across Oceania — to a part of the ocean.
Moana 2 premieres November 27 and stars Auliʻi Cravalho and Dwane Johnson.
Wicked Part 1 — In Theaters November 27, 2024
Image via Universal Pictures
One of this year's final fall movies is one of my most-anticipated. Jon M. Chu's follow-up to In The Heights and Crazy Rich Asians follows the origin story of the Wicked Witch of the West, and has some majorly important themes about judgement, prejudice, and standing up for what's right. This movie couldn't come at a better time.
You can watch Wicked in theaters November 27, 2024. The movie stars Cynthia Erivo, Ariana Grande, Jonathan Bailey, Jeff Goldblum, Michelle Yeoh, Ethan Slater, Marissa Bode, Bowen Yang, and Keala Settle.
Which of these 2024 fall movies are you most excited to see this year? Check out our list of the Most-Anticipated 2024 Movies and The Best New TV Shows to keep up with all the latest titles.
Lead image via Universal Pictures
This post has been updated.
I didn't watch Stranger Thingswhen it first premiered because I convinced myself I wouldn't like it. I have never been more wrong. The story — which revolves around a small town in Indiana, a group of outcasts, popular kids, and parents brought together by tragedy, and a monstrous alternate dimension — launched into the cultural zeitgeist in November of 2016. Television (and streaming services) have never been the same.
The characters within the show (Millie Bobby Brown's powerful Eleven, Joe Keery's goofy-yet-sincere Steve, David Harbour's protective Jim) are so complex and engaging that it makes Stranger Things one of the best TV shows of the 2010s and 2020s. Unfortunately, all good things must come to an end, and after the cultural moment that was Stranger Things 4 (FYI, I'm still listening to Kate Bush's "Running Up That Hill"), the hit series is coming to a close.
In February 2022, brothers, writers, and creators Matt and Ross announced both the date of season four, and that season five would be the last installment. "Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things," they say in the statement. "We hope that you stay with us as we finish this tale of a powerful girl named Eleven and her brave friends, of a broken police chief and a ferocious mom, of a small town called Hawkins and an alternate dimension known only as the Upside Down."
Here's everything we know about Stranger Things 5.
Who's going to be in Stranger Things 5?
Image via Atsushi Nishijima/Netflix
Thanks to a recent behind-the-scenes photo from Netflix, we know for sure that Stranger Things season 5 will bring back all our favorites. The photo confirms we'll see Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Noah Schnapp as Will, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin, Natalia Dyer as Nancy, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan, Sadie Sink as Max, Maya Hawke as Robin, Joe Keery as Steve, David Harbour as Jim Hopper, and Winona Ryder as Joyce. Plus more returning stars like Amybeth McNulty and Priah Ferguson!
Even though Joseph Quinn's Eddie met a tragic fate at the end of Stranger Things 4, he recently hinted we could be seeing the beloved character again. During the April 2024 Facts Convention in Belgium, when a fan asks whether he'll return for the final season, Joseph takes his time to respond (and looks somewhat nervous, might I add). "I do know [whether Eddie's in season 5]," the Fantastic Four actor finally says. "But I'm not telling you."
We've seen deceased characters return as hallucinations before, so I wouldn't be surprised if Stranger Things season 5 features all the characters we've been missing — especially if Millie Bobby Brown's Eleven defeats Vecna and turns the Upside Down into a place of beauty instead of a place of horror.
When is Stranger Things 5 coming out?
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley and Joe Keery as Steve Harrington in STRANGER THINGS. Image via Steve Dietl/Netflix.
Production was supposed to begin summer 2023, but because of the writers' strike (and the subsequent SAG-AFTRA actors' strike), Stranger Things 5was delayed until September 2023, when @strangerwriters tweeted, "we're back." And on March 9, Millie Bobby Brown told The Jonathan Ross Show that the cast has nine months of filming left.
The final season is in production now, and based on the timeline for Stranger Things 3 (which began filming in April of 2018 and released in July of 2019), we can expect Stranger Things 5 to hit Netflix late spring or early summer 2025.
Will Millie be in season 5?
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven and Noah Schnapp as Will Byers in STRANGER THINGS. Image via Netflix.
Yes, Millie Bobby Brown is in Stranger Things 5! She sat down with MTV's Josh Horowitz ahead of her new movie Damsel to talk about the end of the series, and confirmed the vibe is "the exact same" as it's always been.
"I wish I could be like, 'Everybody's crying everyday.' But everybody's having fun!" she says in the interview. "I know closer to the end, we're gonna think about the end, but right now it's nice and it's really fun to be back together again...[We may be] a few months toward the end but we know it's a long road ahead. So right now we're living in bliss."
What happens in Stranger Things 5?
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) David Harbour as Jim Hopper and Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in STRANGER THINGS. Image via Netflix.
In an interview with Happy Sad Confused's Josh Horowitz, David Harbour says that the Duffers always outdo themselves. “I’m excited to go back. I’m excited to wrap it up in a bold, amazing way," he continues. "I’m excited to really swing with this character, because you know they’re going to pay off these OG characters: Eleven, Hopper, Joyce, Will, Mike; they’re going to pay them off in big ways because they’ve lived with you for the past eight years.”
Even though David keeps his lips sealed when it comes to plot details, he does promise that the series' end is "very, very moving."
Other members of the ST team have also offered a glimpse at what we can expect. “Will really takes center stage again in [Stranger Things 5],” Ross Duffer tells Variety. The first season, which kicked off with Will (Noah Schnapp) being abducted, will wrap up where it started. Especially since the first Stranger Things 5 leakseems to show the season will take place during the holidays. Just like season one!
After years of speculation from fans, Noah confirmed that Will is gay in July of 2022 — a decision that impacted his own life as he publicly came out on TikTok in January 2023.
"I think the way I act in Season 5, honestly, might be a little different," Noah says in the same Variety interview. "I will be fully aware of who I am. Knowing all of that about myself and being able to invest that in my character, I’m honestly just excited.”
“This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together," Ross continues. "Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality — it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.”
Who isn't returning to Stranger Things 5?
STRANGER THINGS. Eduardo Franco as Argyle in STRANGER THINGS. Image via Netflix
Eduardo Franco, who played Jonathan's friend Argyle in Stranger Things 4, said in an interview with Steve Varley that he wouldn't be returning for the final season of the show. “It’s nice to hear that there’s some sort of, you know, concern or something, you know what I mean?” Eduardo says. “But I never got a phone call, so I think that’s it.”
And while Eddie Munson (played by Joseph Quinn) became one of the series' most popular characters, his death in the finale feels pretty permanent. "I really don’t know,” Joseph told British GQ in 2022. “[Eddie] seems pretty f*cking dead to me...By no means am I ruling it out. That’s a decision for the grown-ups to make. But Stranger Things was doing fine without Eddie. I think they’ll be fine next season without him, too.”
Who is the new character in Stranger Things 5?
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan, Sadie Sink as Max, Natalia Dyer as Nancy, Noah Schnapp as Will, and Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven. Image via Netflix.
Linda Hamilton (The Terminator, Children of the Corn) is joining the Stranger Things 5. We don't know what kind of role she'll be playing, but we do know she loves Stranger Things as much as we do. “I don’t know how to be a fangirl and an actress at the same time,” she said in a video announcement at Netflix's Tudum event. “I’m gonna work on that.”
Is there a Stranger Things spinoff coming?
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin, and Finn Wolfhard as Mike in STRANGER THINGS. Image via Netflix.
"There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things," the Duffers say in their statement announcing the end of the series. "New mysteries, new adventures new unexpected heroes."
In addition to the Stranger Things: The First Shadowstage play in London, we're also getting a live-action spinoff via Netflix. No one knows what the spinoff is about — except for Finn Wolfhard, who happened to guess it!
Is Millie Bobby Brown done with Stranger Things?
STRANGER THINGS. (L to R) Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven in STRANGER THINGS. Image via Netflix.
Millie Bobby Brown is returning as Eleven, but she said in an interview with Women’s Wear Daily that she's looking forward to the next chapter of life. Now 20, she started the series when she was 11 years old. “It’s been such a huge factor in part of my life, but it’s like graduating high school, it’s like senior year,” she says. “You’re ready to go and blossom and flourish and you’re grateful for the time you’ve had, but it’s time to create your own message and live your own life.”
Other members of the cast have also expressed their thoughts on the show's end.
“It’s interesting to constantly just be reminded how much people have resonated with it," Gaten Matarrazzo said onTheTonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. "It’s something that’s so important to all of us and has just been essential to the growth that I’ve had over all of my teenage years into my 20s. It’s the defining aspect of the past 10 years of my life.”
Even if Finn Wolfhard, isn't quite ready for the show to end, he knows it's time. "If Stranger Things went on any longer than five, I would say it would be ridiculous,” Wolfhard told Uproxx. “I think the Duffer brothers figured out, I would imagine, a perfect ending in five. We didn’t even know if we’d do two. So we’re happy that people still are around and want to watch it.”
Your First Look At Stranger Things 5 Fan Favorite Dustin Henderson
Image via Ross Duffer/Instagram
After sharing images of Joe Keery and Maya Hawke as Steve Harrington and Robin Buckley, co-creator Ross Duffer shared a picture of Gaten Matarazzo's Dustin in full Hellfire Club gear. Gaten's doing the signature move of fan favorite character Eddie Munson (who died at the end of Stranger Things 4), and a new leaked photo from set connects Dustin and Eddie in another way, too.
The image shows Dustin at Eddie's grave, which has been vandalized with spray paint. The only word we can clearly make out is "Burn," but considering Eddie led the Hellfire club, it's safe to assume the spray paint reads "Burn in Hell" — especially after the Satanic Panic plotline in ST4 turned all of Hawkins against Eddie. If Dustin is the new leader of the club, and the town still hates it, I'm going to need him to watch his back. STAY SAFE DUSTIN.
I will forever and always be a Steve stan, but let us know who you're most excited to see in Stranger Things 5, in the comments and on Facebook. And check out our TikTok for more fun celeb and pop culture content — like seeing Millie Bobby Brown at a Brooklyn Nets game!
This post has been updated.
Lead image via Netflix.