The Stranger Things cast has commenced filming for the series' last season. While a majority of fans have expressed excitement over this recent development, there is a group of individuals calling for a boycott of Stranger Things 5.
Initially scheduled to commence in June 2023, filming for the final season faced delays due to simultaneous strikes by writers and actors. Following the resolution of these strikes, pre-production activities including the table read began last December.
The production officially kicked off last week, as announced by Netflix. Leaked photos from the sets have provided fans with a glimpse into the final season. Despite the smooth progress of filming, there is a growing online sentiment where many individuals are expressing intentions to boycott the final season, citing various reasons.
Noah Schnapp faced significant backlash after making a controversial statement on the Israel-Palestine conflict in October 2023. The actor was criticized for appearing in a video promoting stickers with phrases like "Zionism is Sexy" and "Hamas is ISIS." His alleged offensive views and actions led to condemnation from several prominent celebrities. Following the incident, Schnapp experienced a substantial loss of more than 1 million followers on Instagram.
Following the controversy, there has been a public demand for Noah Schnapp to be replaced in the final season. Later it was reported that Netflix was monitoring Schnapp's behavior and ultimately chose not to terminate the actor. This decision was influenced by the fact that Will Byers is the main focus of season 5.
In addition to Schnapp, Brett Gelman also encountered criticism for sharing offensive posts on Instagram. Furthermore, Ross Duffer, the creator of Stranger Things, faced backlash for writing a letter expressing support for Israel.
The release of the first photo from the sets of Stranger Things 5, featuring all cast members including Noah Schnapp and Brett Gulman, sparked criticism from fans online. Many expressed dissatisfaction with Netflix for retaining these actors despite their controversial views.
Some comparisons were drawn to the dismissal of Melissa Barrera from Scream 5 for her support of Palestine, leading to discussions about perceived inconsistencies in handling such matters within the entertainment industry.
A few days back Eduardo Franco, who portrayed Argyle in season 4, disclosed that he will not be returning for the final season of Stranger Things. Franco revealed that he never received a call from Netflix, a revelation perceived as disrespectful by numerous fans.
Social media users have voiced their disappointment over the perceived discrepancy in treatment, expressing frustration that Noah Schnapp and Brett Gulman retained their roles while Eduardo Franco will not be part of season 5.
The new leaked photos from season 5 sets have shown Dustin Henderson visiting Eddie Munson's grave. It almost confirms that Eddie is indeed dead and will not return in the final season. It has also led to disappointment among Eddie fans who were rooting for his comeback in the final season.
In light of these controversies and decisions surrounding cast members, some fans have chosen to boycott the final season of Stranger Things. The effectiveness of this boycott remains uncertain, given the considerable amount of time left before the season airs.
The filming process for the final season of Stranger Things is underway and is expected to span approximately one year. Taking into account the subsequent post-production work, it appears that the final season will likely be ready for release in late 2025.
