The final day on the Stranger Things set was a surreal experience for Finn Wolfhard, the actor who has grown alongside his character Mike Wheeler over ten years. Filming wrapped on December 20 at the Atlanta studio, and while Wolfhard initially tried to focus on enjoying the day rather than the looming finale, the sheer weight of the moment quickly set in.
“Everyone was thinking about the end and was down, and I would just be like, ‘Yeah, but we’re all here hanging out. It’s fine,’” he told Variety, capturing the attempt to stay grounded amid overwhelming emotions. But when he turned from the monitors and saw hundreds of people gathered — from Netflix co-CEO Ted Sarandos to castmates like Natalia Dyer and Joe Keery who stayed after their scenes — the reality struck. “So if that wasn’t enough of a mindfk there, it was also like, ‘Wait, that means it’s ending.’”
For Wolfhard, the final day became a microcosm of everything Stranger Things has represented: the culmination of friendships, creative collaboration, and a decade of personal and professional growth. As Matt and Ross Duffer called “action” for the last time, the emotional resonance of the moment encapsulated years of storytelling, laughter, and shared challenges, marking the end of an era for both cast and crew.
Finn Wolfhard Reflects on Stranger Things’ Emotional End
While plot details remain tightly under wraps, Finn Wolfhard offered tantalising hints about the series’ finale. Key moments will involve the core group of young protagonists — Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, and Sadie Sink — culminating in scenes that evoke both joy and reflection.
“There was a moment where there was true joy from everyone because of a moment that happened,” Wolfhard teased, careful not to spoil the surprises. He described leaving the set as “one of the greatest moments in my entire life,” a sentiment amplified by the celebratory atmosphere, including Champagne and shared memories.
The finale also promises to highlight Mike Wheeler’s evolution. Matt Duffer commented, “The way Finn has matured into this very confident young man is mirrored in the show and in Season 5 in particular.” Viewers can expect to see Mike stepping back into a leadership role, this time tempered with a more adult maturity, reflecting both his journey and Wolfhard’s growth as an actor.
Fans who have followed the show since its debut will find this evolution particularly poignant. Mike Wheeler, once a resourceful and sometimes anxious teenager rallying his friends against government conspiracies and monstrous threats, now embodies a character whose courage is informed by experience, trauma, and empathy — a perfect mirror of the actor portraying him.
Stranger Things has always been more than supernatural thrills; it has been a study of friendship, loyalty, and growing up under extraordinary circumstances. Finn Wolfhard’s reflections illuminate the personal stakes behind the scenes, showing that the finale is not simply the end of a story but a celebration of a decade spent creating something culturally significant.
Matt Duffer observed, “And it’s just been so fun to see Finn sort of tap back into that fearless-leader mode but bringing that more adult maturity to it.” Wolfhard’s journey from the wide-eyed leader of Season 1 to a more nuanced and confident Mike Wheeler embodies the series’ unique ability to blend nostalgia with the realities of time passing — both for its characters and for its actors.
For fans, the emotional resonance of Wolfhard’s final day reminds us of the magic of long-running series: the bond between cast and crew, the growth witnessed on screen, and the way stories can reflect our own experiences of change, loss, and triumph. The anticipation for November is not solely for the resolution of Hawkins’ supernatural dilemmas but for the chance to witness the culmination of years of dedication, friendship, and growth shared by everyone who brought Stranger Things to life.
As Season 5 approaches, Finn Wolfhard’s candid reflections offer a rare and intimate glimpse into the intersection of personal and character growth. They serve as a reminder that the end of a show is simultaneously an ending and a celebration — a “mindfk” of emotions, achievements, and memories that will resonate long after Hawkins disappears from our screens.
The final season promises closure, nostalgia, and emotional payoff, with Wolfhard’s Mike Wheeler at the centre, showcasing not only his heroic evolution but the profound human story behind the cameras. Fans can look forward to a finale that honours a decade of storytelling, friendships forged, and the indelible mark left by Stranger Things on pop culture and the hearts of those who brought it to life.
