Stranger Things returns with its fifth and final season, premiering November 26 on Netflix after a three-year wait. The new season will roll out in three parts and will even receive a limited theatrical release in the US. Set in 1987, the story brings the cast back to Hawkins as they confront a new threat. It’s been nearly a decade since the series first arrived in 2016, and the child stars we met nine years ago are now all grown up. Ahead of the new season, here’s a look at their then-vs-now pictures.
Updated On: 2025-11-24 11:59 AM IST
Compiled by : Aakruti Bagla
British actor Charlie Heaton, who plays Jonathan Byers, was 22 when Stranger Things first premiered. Over the seasons, he becomes a protective force for his family and a supportive partner to Nancy.
Brett Gelman plays Murray Bauman, the eccentric former journalist-turned-conspiracy theorist who first appears in Season 2. Over the seasons, Murray becomes an essential ally.
Noah Schnapp plays Will Byers, whose disappearance in Season 1 triggers the events of the series. Since making his Stranger Things debut, Schnapp, now 21, has appeared in independent films such as Abe and Waiting for Anya.
Caleb McLaughlin, who plays Lucas Sinclair on Stranger Things, was 14 when the series premiered in 2016. In Season 5, he returns stronger than ever as the group faces their final battle.
Natalia Dyer plays Nancy Wheeler, who begins as a studious high-schooler in Season 1 but quickly grows into one of Hawkins’ sharpest investigators.
David Harbour plays Jim Hopper, the gruff yet big-hearted Hawkins police chief who becomes Eleven’s father figure.
Gaten Matarazzo, who plays lovable Dustin Henderson on the hit Netflix series, was 14 when Stranger Things premiered. Prior to the role, Matarazzo appeared in Broadway shows such as Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Misérables. He made his on-screen acting debut in a 2015 episode of The Blacklist.
Finn Wolfhard was just 13 years old when he began playing Mike Wheeler. The Canadian actor returns as a key part of the team fighting to save Hawkins once and for all.
Beetlejuice star Winona Ryder is the heart of the show as Will Byers' supportive mother, Joyce. The Netflix show served as a comeback for her career.
Joe Keery was 24 years old when he made his debut as fan-favorite Steve Harrington on Stranger Things. Now 33 years old, Keery has starred in a number of films since Stranger Things first premiered, including Spree, Molly’s Game and Free Guy.
Millie Bobby Brown plays Eleven, a girl with psychokinetic powers. For fifth instalment, Eleven is in training mode. She's in a warrior state, which is the first time you see Eleven like that at the beginning of a season.
