Skip to main content

Stranger Things season 3 trailer goes full ’80s with a monstrous finale

Stranger Things 3 | Official Trailer [HD] | Netflix

Just a day after Netflix teased the return of Stranger Things, the streaming service has released a full trailer for Stranger Things season 3.

Recommended Videos

Set to the tune of The Who’s 1971 classic Teenage Wastelandthe trailer offers a brief peek at what the gang has been up to since the events of the second season and how their lives — and the town of Hawkins, Indiana — have changed. With the kids now entering early adulthood, the group dynamic has clearly changed, but a new, sinister threat appears to be looming on the horizon.

The trailer not only showcases the series’ young stars, but also catches up with some of the older characters — including everyone’s favorite babysitter, Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) — and introduces some of the new faces joining the show’s cast. Cary Elwes, who will play the town’s new mayor, features prominently in the trailer and will reportedly play a major role in the season that involves the opening of the new Starcourt Mall.

From the fashion to the music, to the elaborate mall set, season 3 of Stranger Things could be the show’s most 1980s-infused arc so far — but the closing moments of the trailer suggest it won’t be getting away from its creature-feature roots.

Season 3 of Stranger Things brings back original cast members Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, David Harbour as Chief Jim Hopper, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair, Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, and the aforementioned Keery as Steve Harrington. Season 2 cast additions Dacre Montgomery and Sadie Sink also return as Billy and Max, respectively.

Along with Elwes as Mayor Kline, the third season also introduces Maya Thurman-Hawke as Robin, Jake Busey as Bruce, and Francesca Reale as Heather.

Series creators The Duffer Brothers return for the third season as writers, and will direct several episodes along with Shawn Levy.

The winner of five Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018 along with 13 additional nominations, Stranger Things will return to Netflix for its third season on July 4. All eight episodes of the season will be available to stream on that date.

Rick Marshall
Former Contributing Editor, Entertainment
A veteran journalist with more than two decades of experience covering local and national news, arts and entertainment, and…
7 best TV shows of the 2020s so far, ranked
Two dragons roar behind Rhaenyra in "House of the Dragon" season 2.

Television continues to fill the airwaves with top-tier programs that rival cinema in terms of quality and acclaim. Shows on regular television networks and streaming services like Netflix, Hulu, Apple TV+, and Max have recently delivered several outstanding new shows and seasons that achieved record-breaking ratings, amassed significant awards, or both.
Though the world is only halfway into the 2020s, these seven TV shows have established themselves as the best of the decade so far.

7. The Bear (2022-present)

Read more
Squid Game season 3: Creator teases release window for final season
A player in Squid Game gets on his hands and knees.

After a three-year hiatus, Squid Game finally returned to Netflix with season 2 on December 26. For those who already binged the new episodes, season 2 ends on a cliffhanger, which is no surprise considering the series will return for a third and final season in 2025.

When can fans expect to watch season 3? Series creator Hwang Dong-hyuk teased season 3's release window in a recent interview with Variety.
"At this point, anything I might say is going to be a spoiler, so I want to be cautious," Hwang said. "But what I can say is, after season 2 launches, I believe we will be announcing the launch date for season 3 soon. I probably expect that to launch around summer or fall next year."
Squid Game: Season 2 | Official Trailer | Netflix

Read more
Stranger Things season 5 completes filming: ‘That’s a wrap’
The logo for Stranger Things 5.

And that's a wrap for production on Stranger Things season 5. Netflix announced that filming for the fifth and final season of Stranger Things has been completed.

"That's a wrap on Stranger Things," the caption reads on the show's X account. "See you in 2025." Along with the announcement, numerous behind-the-scenes photos of the cast and crew from season 5 were posted, which you can view below.

Read more