Terminator Icon Linda Hamilton Nearly Quit Acting — Then Stranger Things Season 5 Came Calling

Linda Hamilton was this close to bowing out of acting, and then Hawkins called. The Terminator legend is suiting up for Stranger Things season 5 as Dr. Kay, an intimidating government official. Not many specifics on the character yet, but the timing of how she joined is a story in itself.

How it went down

• Hamilton told Variety she spent years dealing with a brutal hip issue. She started telling her agent she was considering retirement because if she couldn't be at her best, she didn't want to be in front of a camera.
• She had a final call basically saying: I'm retiring. Two months later, the phone rings about Stranger Things.
• The ask: is Linda free from June to June — essentially a year-long commitment for season 5? Her agent didn't hesitate.
• That led to a Zoom with creators Matt and Ross Duffer, who she says were incredibly kind. And just like that, retirement was on pause.

"They called about Stranger Things and said, is Linda available from June to June? And [my agent] went, Yes! He didn't even check with me, he just went Yes! So, and then there was the Zoom meeting with the Duffer brothers, who could not have been kinder."

So who is Dr. Kay?

All Netflix is sharing right now: Hamilton is playing Dr. Kay, an intimidating government official. That's it. Expect the show to keep the rest locked up until it wants you to know.

Season 5 is the end

The Duffers aren't hedging: this is the last chapter for Eleven, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Steve, and Hawkins. They've said there isn't anything else worth exploring with these characters and that the ending only works if they don't leave it cracked open for a sequel. Translation: this is the goodbye.

When you can watch

Stranger Things season 5: Volume 1 drops this November 27.