The anticipation for Stranger Things Season 5 has been palpable, and fans were eagerly counting down the months to the series finale. Yet, the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike shook the very foundation of Hawkins, albeit off-screen. Initially, the fifth season’s shooting schedule was set to commence in June 2023, a date that promised smooth sailing for the Duffers and their team. That was until the May strike hit, forcing the writers’ room into an abrupt pause.
On May 6, the Duffer Brothers publicly acknowledged the halt: writing had been suspended in solidarity with the WGA strike. It was a stark reminder of how labor disputes ripple through every layer of production. The writers, eager to return, finally resumed work after September 27, sending a jubilant tweet that simply stated, “We’re back.” For Netflix, the urgency was real. Not only was Stranger Things a financial juggernaut, but the actors’ ages added pressure to capture their characters’ teenage essence convincingly.
The production itself finally kicked off on January 8, 2024, and wrapped on December 20, 2024. But even this timeline conceals the massive undertaking required. Stranger Things’ signature visual style, from its neon-soaked Hawkins streets to the horrifyingly detailed Upside Down, demands painstaking post-production work. Each sequence of Demogorgons, elaborate D&D-inspired battles, or interdimensional landscapes needed meticulous attention, which meant that even minor delays could cascade into months-long setbacks.
Stranger Things Season 5 Delayed by 2023 Writers Strike
While the strikes directly affected the writers, the actors felt the repercussions in surprising ways. David Harbour, who plays the beloved Jim Hopper, had plans to shoot the Marvel blockbuster Thunderbolts (2025) around the same time as Stranger Things. The industry-wide delay, however, threw his carefully balanced schedule into disarray, leaving him to juggle two massive productions once the strikes concluded.
Meanwhile, Winona Ryder, reprising her iconic role as Joyce Byers, experienced an unexpected benefit. Ryder had previously planned to take a break from Stranger Things to film Beetlejuice 2 (2024), a sequel to Tim Burton’s cult classic that had faced numerous delays since the early 2000s. The WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes effectively created a scheduling window, allowing Ryder to complete her work on Beetlejuice before returning to Hawkins. The strike, in a sense, allowed her to extend her involvement in the Stranger Things universe without compromising her prior commitments.
Other cast members, like Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, and Sadie Sink, also had to navigate personal and professional obligations disrupted by the strike. Coordinating a group of actors who began their careers as teenagers is already complex; factoring in Hollywood labor disputes made the production schedule a delicate, intricate puzzle.
Stranger Things Season 5 serves as a case study in resilience within Hollywood. The 2023 strikes highlighted the tension between creative ambition and labor realities, showing how unions, writers, and actors collectively influence the pace and quality of television production. For Netflix, the delay meant more than financial recalculations; it was a reminder of the human element behind every scene.
The strikes also emphasised solidarity in the entertainment industry. Writers and actors put collective action ahead of immediate productivity, prioritising long-term labor rights over tight filming schedules. This approach may set a precedent for future productions, where streaming giants and studios will increasingly consider fair compensation, working conditions, and union involvement before committing to intense production timelines.
As Hawkins prepares for one final showdown, fans can reflect on the unseen stories behind the camera. Every delay, schedule shuffle, and labor negotiation played a role in shaping the series’ finale. Stranger Things, a show synonymous with friendship, adventure, and the nostalgic charm of the 1980s, reminds us that the world of television is as much about human perseverance as it is about Demogorgons and the Upside Down. The strikes may have slowed the journey, but they also reinforced the importance of community, collaboration, and dedication—values that resonate both on-screen and off.
The story behind Stranger Things Season 5’s production is a narrative in itself, rich with drama, compromise, and triumph. From halted scripts to post-production marvels and cast scheduling gymnastics, the series’ final chapter reflects a decade-long journey, demonstrating that the magic of Hawkins is as much about the people creating it as the monsters they face.
