USA TODAY spoke to “Stranger Things” stars Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo at the Season 5 final premiere about how they’re closing out this era of their lives.
‘Stranger Things’ cast get emotional looking at season 1 photo
“Stranger Things” stars reflect on season 1 memories and share heartfelt reactions to old photo.
LOS ANGELES − Affection and nostalgia were at an 11 on the final “Stranger Things” premiere as the ensemble of young actors celebrated the beginning of the end of the sci-fi juggernaut that catapulted their lives to a whole new dimension.
Ahead of the Thanksgiving Eve drop of Season 5’s “Volume 1” (a total of four episodes) on Netflix, actress Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven) walked hand-in-hand with costar Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield) on the black carpet at the Hollywood premiere on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the historic TCL Chinese Theatre.
The Core Four of the fictional town Hawkins, Indiana − Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair) and Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson) − also strutted down the carpet, posed for photos together, waved at fans and the press, and Schnapp, was trying to keep his cool (literally) with a handheld portable fan.
Following the first batch of episodes, fans will have to wait until Christmas for “Volume 2” to binge three more episodes. Finally, it will all come to a bittersweet end on New Year’s Eve with the series finale (which will also be hitting theaters).
As the cast made its way down the press line, the actors, all now in their early 20s, were greeted by USA TODAY with something perhaps even more unnerving than the villainous Vecna himself: a photo of the group as young teens (their ages ranging from 11 to 14).
The photo, taken by a USA TODAY photographer of the cast from 2016, features Brown, Schnapp, Natalie Dyer, McLaughlin, Wolfhard and Matarazzo around the time Season 1 of “Stranger Things” had premiered. As Brown, Schnapp, Wolfhard and Matarazzo stopped by to chat, we asked what memories the photo brought back as they prepare to say goodbye to The Upside Down.
‘Stranger Things’ core cast reacts to 2016 photo
While some were appalled by their fashion choices a decade ago, other “Stranger Things” stars were overcome with emotion and nostalgia. A suited Matarrazo, now 23, chuckled at his 2016 fashion choices of an unbuttoned plaid shirt layered over a graphic T-shirt.
“This is tough … tough in the outfit department, don’t know what we decided to do there,” Matarrazo told USA TODAY. “We’ve worked on it a tad, the haircut, too.”
Brown, who at 21 boasts the title of businesswoman and mother of one, was short in her response: “My reaction is, who let her walk out in those overalls?” But everyone has to start somewhere. Brown went from denim overalls as her go-to outfit to walking the carpet in an elegant black Rodarte gown featuring feathers and sheer tulle.
Meanwhile, Wolfhard and Schnapp reflected on core memories formed during the show’s start. “It’s so sad, I just can’t believe it’s over,” Schnapp, now 21, said, reacting to the photo. “I love them all dearly. Family for life.”
Though production on “Stranger Things 5” concluded in December, the cast is still processing what it means to leave behind a life-changing chapter of their lives.
“I feel like I haven’t ever said goodbye totally,” says Wolfhard, now 22. “It comes in waves, I feel like. But it’s really nice to be able to be here with everyone and experience sort of the end, even though it doesn’t really feel like the end, because we all still talk a lot.”
Then it was time to head into the screening for Episode 1 of Season 5; attendees and members of the press were instructed to lock away their phones in sealed pouches to avoid any plot leaks. The energy, though, was palpable, and emotions were heightened, especially for the show’s creators.
The Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, addressed the audience before the premiere episode and spoke to the arduous journey of bringing this show to life.
It’s all love between Millie Bobbie Brown and David Harbour
The final “Stranger Things” premiere was nearly plagued with controversy after reports surfaced from the Daily Mail on Nov. 1 that Brown had allegedly filed a harassment and bullying claim against onscreen dad, Harbour (Jim Hopper), before filming began. USA TODAY reached out to representatives of Brown and Harbour at the time.
During the Nov. 7 premiere, however, the onscreen daughter-father duo showed a united front, conveying nothing but admiration toward each other as phones and cameras measured their every move.
The Duffer Brothers also addressed the claims during an interview with The Hollywood Reporter that night, with Matt saying, “Obviously, you understand I can’t get into personal on-set matters.”
“But I will say we’ve been doing this for 10 years with this cast, and at this point they’re family and we deeply care about them,” he went on. “So, you know, nothing matters more than just having a set where everyone feels safe and happy.”
On Instagram, Brown posted a carousel of photos from the premiere, one of them being of her and Harbour.
Priah Ferguson recalls final scene with ‘Stranger Things’ on-screen brother Caleb McLaughlin
Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair) recalled her final moments shooting with on-screen brother McLaughlin. “Definitely bittersweet and emotional, but I’m excited to see what’s new and what’s coming,” she said.
Ferguson also teased upcoming interactions with new characters joining the final season. While she couldn’t say much about what’s to come, she said she expects the intensity of Season 5 to shock viewers.
The crowd goes crazy for Barb after Season 1 death
Fans who attended the premiere shouted when they saw a fan-favorite character from Season 1 walk the red carpet. “Barb! Barb! Barb!” chants were heard across the LA premiere when Shannon Purser arrived.
The 28-year-old actress said she will never get used to the everlasting response from fans about Barb, who died in Episode 2 after just 25 lines in the script.
“It’s so strange, for lack of a better word,” Purser says. “I had no idea that she would make as much of an impact as she did, and to be here 10 years later, and people are still talking about Barb. It’s really exciting. I just think back to my 18-year-old self who was on set, and she would be blown away that this is where we are now.”
Onscreen dad Joe Chrest watched ‘Stranger Things’ kids grow up
Actor Joe Chrest, who plays Mike and Nancy’s father, Mr. Ted Wheeler, has had a front row seat to watching all the kids grow up while navigating fame so young.
“I’ve actually been proud of them like a real father, but just the way they’ve handled everything, like coming from being these little children in Season 1,” he says. “All of them rocketed to the stratosphere of stardom, and when they came back the next year and throughout, (their) personality (did not) change one bit, and that makes me feel good.”
Brett Gelman on the honor of working with Winona Ryder
Brett Gelman (Murray Bauman) loved working with the entire “Stranger Things” cast, but working with legendary actress Winona Ryder was a particular highlight for him.
“It was insane to work with Winona Ryder. That’s crazy,” he says. “Somebody who I (have) worshiped since I was much younger, even though we’re basically the same age.”
Gelman added, “But she became famous at a really young age, and it’s insane to be getting into adventures like we did last season with this person that I grew up with.”
