Stranger Things Showrunners End the Eddie Munson Debate — He’s Not Coming Back
End of the road: officials confirm he’s not coming back, drawing a hard line after days of speculation.
If you were still betting on Eddie Munson making a miracle return in Stranger Things season 5, it is time to cash out. Co-creator Matt Duffer just put a stake in that theory, and he did it in the most definitive way possible.
Matt Duffer says Eddie is gone-gone
Duffer told Empire that Joseph Quinn has been having fun fueling fan hopes, but the show is not bringing Eddie back. He pointed out Quinn’s packed schedule as another reality check.
"I love that Joe Quinn is toying with people! But no, he's dead. Joe is so busy, anyway, that everyone should know he's not coming back. He's shot like five movies since! When the hell has he got time to come and shoot Stranger Things? No, sadly, RIP. He's fully under that ground."
Translation: as much as they love the character, this isn’t a bait-and-switch. Eddie’s story ended in season 4.
Why Eddie hit so hard with fans
Eddie showed up in season 4 like the cool older-brother figure the Hawkins kids didn’t know they needed — shredding guitar, rolling Dungeons & Dragons dice, and standing up to the Upside Down when it counted. He went out swinging, literally using heavy metal as a diversion so his friends could survive. It was big, loud, and weirdly perfect for him, which is exactly why people hoped there was a loophole.
What Joseph Quinn is doing now
If you’ve wondered why Quinn kept saying 'who can say?' about a comeback, well, he’s been a little busy lighting things on fire in another universe. He recently jumped to Marvel as Johnny Storm/Human Torch in The Fantastic Four: First Steps, playing the character with that reckless swagger fans expect and giving him some actual emotional weight, too.
The endgame for Stranger Things
Season 5 is the last chapter for one of Netflix’s biggest shows. Stranger Things launched back in 2015 and has more or less dropped a new season every couple of years. This time, they’re rolling it out in three chunks:
- Season 5, Volume 1: November 26
- Volume 2: December 25
- Volume 3: December 31
So yes, Eddie fans, pour one out. And get ready — the final ride is coming fast.