Maya Hawke updates fans on 'Stranger Things' Season 5: 'We're Making Eight Movies'

Actress Maya Hawke has provided an update on the progress of the highly anticipated fifth and final season of Netflix's hit series 'Stranger Things.' Speaking with Deadline, Hawke, known for her role as Robin, described the ambitious scale of the upcoming season, likening it to producing "eight movies."

The journey to bring Season 5 to fruition has faced challenges, including production delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic and a writers' and actors' strike in 2023. Despite these setbacks, filming for the final season began in January 2024, aiming to deliver a grand conclusion to the beloved sci-fi saga.

In her interview with Deadline, Hawke humorously acknowledged the series' tumultuous production history, quipping, "This show has been a little bit cursed." She praised showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer for their meticulous approach to storytelling and production. "Our showrunners, Matt and Ross, take a lot of responsibility. They have an amazing team of writers, but they're very involved," Hawke explained. "They write a lot and they are very intense and serious about the quality of the continued writing, and it takes a long time to write each season, and it takes a long time to shoot them."

Hawke highlighted that the episodes in Season 5 will be substantial in length, contributing to the cinematic feel of the season. With eight episodes planned, she projected that filming would span approximately a year, underscoring the meticulous nature of the production process.

Reflecting on her character Robin's evolution, Hawke previously expressed her desire for Robin to have a significant narrative arc in the final season, including a potential heroic moment. She also shared her thoughts on Robin's storyline involving a romantic relationship, balancing the impact on character dynamics and screen time with co-star Joe Keery's character Steve.