'Stranger Things' fans fear major character's fate after Duffer Brothers tease Season 5 ending

Matt and Ross Duffer's playful segment has prompted renewed concern ahead of the show’s final season

Stranger Things fans are speculating about the fate of Steve Harrington following a recent appearance by series creators Matt and Ross Duffer on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, where a playful segment has prompted renewed concern ahead of the show’s final season.

During the interview, the Duffer Brothers teased the ending of Stranger Things Season 5 using Funko POP! figures of key characters. Ross Duffer first picked up a figure of Barb and placed it on the floor, prompting Jimmy Fallon to remark that he had always rooted for the character, who was killed off in Season 1. Fallon also suggested that Barb could return in the final season.

Attention then shifted to the remaining figures. Eleven was placed inside a glass filled with water, while Will was positioned on top of Henry, with Vecna set above Will. The moment that unsettled viewers came when Steve Harrington’s figure was placed at the edge of the table. Ross then pushed it off, drawing gasps and screams from the studio audience.

Fallon reacted by suggesting that this was how Stranger Things ends, before introducing an exclusive clip from Season 5 Volume 2. The brief moment quickly circulated online, with fans analysing whether the gesture hinted at Steve’s potential death.

Reactions on social media were immediate. Some viewers speculated that the scene was deliberately misleading, suggesting Steve could appear to die before returning in a later episode. Others believed the creators were intentionally fuelling long-running theories without confirming anything.

Steve Harrington, portrayed by Joe Keery, has become one of the series’ most popular characters since his debut, with fans frequently expressing concern that he may not survive the final chapter.

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 2 is set to premiere on Netflix on December 25, 2025. The series finale will follow on December 31, 2025, when viewers will finally learn Steve Harrington’s fate.