Stranger Things: Did the Duffer Brothers Let Slip Who Dies Next?

Stranger Things is heading into its last round, and the Duffers are clearly weighing the big question: who actually makes it out of Hawkins. They are talking about deaths, teasing hero turns, and reminding everyone that some fan favorites already skirted the edge once before.

The death talk: where the Duffers draw the line

In a new Entertainment Weekly interview, Matt and Ross Duffer opened up about how tricky it is to kill a major character at the finish line. They even used Mike Wheeler as the kind of example that would change the entire vibe of the show if he went down.

"What often holds us back is you have to talk about the repercussions," Matt said, noting that taking out a central character like Mike could tip the whole series into something bleak and make the season about nothing but that loss.

They stressed the Mike scenario was hypothetical. Still, with Hawkins gearing up for the last showdown against the Upside Down, every hint is gasoline on the theory fire. The brothers also said they weigh every arc carefully, especially after the losses we have already had across four seasons.

Mike Wheeler is finally in full hero mode

Finn Wolfhard told Who What Wear in a 2025 chat that Mike gets his most heroic run yet in Season 5. He said Mike is on a mission in a way we have not really seen since Season 1. Think courage, determination, and actual leadership, not just pep talks.

Finn says Mike is laser focused on killing Vecna and protecting his town and his friends. He is proud of the arc, and notes Mike takes more control this season instead of getting dragged along by the plot.

Who already dodged the reaper

The Duffers also revisited past close calls in that EW interview, and a few of them were closer than you might think:

• Hopper in the Season 3 finale: Matt says death basically grazed him. There was a version of the story where Hopper died at the end of 3, and he came the closest to staying dead. Ross added they kept him alive because his story and growth were not finished.
• Steve Harrington early on: He was nearly written off before the show fell in love with Joe Keery. If that chemistry had not clicked, Steve would have been gone.
• Season 5 expectations: They hint that shocking exits could still happen, but say they are not interested in body counts for shock value. The goal is to finish the stories they set up.

When we see it

Stranger Things Season 5, Part 1 is set to drop on November 26, 2025.

So yes, hero Mike is coming, the Duffers are measuring their swings, and the finale is shaping up to be big, messy, and emotional. Place your bets on who makes it to the end credits.