On May 6, 2023, the Duffer brothers announced via the writers’ room X account that production had been paused until a “fair deal” was reached between the Writers Guild of America and the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. They tweeted, “Writing does not stop when filming begins. While we’re excited to start production with our amazing cast and crew, it is not possible during this strike. We hope a fair deal is reached soon so we can all get back to work. Until then — over and out. #wgastrong.”
On January 8, 2024, the official “Stranger Things” account confirmed that the fifth season had entered production. The post stated, “THIS IS A CODE RED. STRANGER THINGS 5 production has officially begun!!!”
By July 15, 2024, Netflix released a behind-the-scenes featurette marking the halfway point of filming for the final season. In the video, Millie Bobby Brown shared, “I started when I was 10. I’m now turning 20 years old. It feels very weird.”
The teaser also showcased other main cast members and introduced newcomer Linda Hamilton. It included glimpses of Dustin in a Hellfire Club shirt, and the original four—Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will—attending school together. There were also brief scenes featuring Hawke and Ryder, along with a surprised Holly reacting to something off-screen.