History of Stranger Things season 4 in Timeline

Stranger Things season 4 was released on Netflix in two volumes in May and July 2022. The season sees the group separated across different locations: Hawkins, California, and Russia. A new powerful Vecna emerges from the Upside Down, preying on Hawkins teens with past traumas. Dustin, Steve, and others team up with newcomers to investigate Vecna's origins. Meanwhile, Eleven is in a secret facility regaining her powers to combat the new threat. Joyce and Murray travel to Russia to rescue Hopper. The season culminates in a large-scale battle against Vecna, leaving Hawkins vulnerable and setting the stage for the final season.

March 1986: Setting of Stranger Things 4

The fourth season of Stranger Things is set in March 1986, eight months after the events of the third season, and is split between different plotlines.

1986: "Master of Puppets" Chart Success

In 1986, Metallica's "Master of Puppets" saw a significant boost, peaking at number one on streaming platforms and charting in the U.S. and UK for the first time since its original release, after being prominently featured in the Stranger Things 4 season finale.

1990: Vecna's Introduction in Dungeons & Dragons

The Duffer Brothers used the Dungeons & Dragons character of Vecna as the basis of the antagonist of Stranger Things Season 4, even though Vecna was not fully introduced in Dungeons & Dragons materials until 1990 through the module Vecna Lives!

Loading Video...

1994: Damien Echols Wrongly Convicted

In 1994, Damien Echols, one of the West Memphis Three, was wrongly convicted of the deaths of three boys, an event that served as inspiration for the character of Eddie Munson in Stranger Things season 4.

2018: Netflix Acquired Albuquerque Studios

In 2018, Netflix acquired Albuquerque Studios in New Mexico, where a significant portion of filming for Stranger Things 4 occurred.

September 30, 2019: Netflix Renews Stranger Things for Season 4

On September 30, 2019, Netflix announced the renewal of Stranger Things for a fourth season, and also signed the Duffer Brothers for a new multi-year television and film deal.

Loading Video...

November 1, 2019: Casting Begins for Season 4

By November 1, 2019, casting had begun for the fourth season of Stranger Things, with plans to add four new male characters, including teenagers and an adult tied to the Russian storyline.

December 3, 2019: Robin Returning for Season 4

On December 3, 2019, it was confirmed that Maya Hawke's character, Robin, would be returning for the fourth season of Stranger Things.

February 14, 2020: Hopper's Return Confirmed

On February 14, 2020, Netflix confirmed that David Harbour would return as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things season 4, and that Tom Wlaschiha had been cast as a Russian malefactor.

February 2020: Priah Ferguson Returning

In February 2020, it was confirmed that Priah Ferguson would return to the series Stranger Things for season 4.

February 2020: Production Begins in Lithuania

In February 2020, the Duffer Brothers and Netflix announced that production had officially begun on the fourth season of Stranger Things in Vilnius, Lithuania, at the Lukiškės Prison and Kyviskes airfield.

March 16, 2020: Production Halted Due to COVID-19

On March 16, 2020, all Netflix productions, including Stranger Things season 4, were halted due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic after two weeks of filming.

September 28, 2020: Filming Resumes in Georgia

After delays, filming for Stranger Things season 4 resumed on September 28, 2020, in Georgia.

October 1, 2020: Filming at Hawkins Middle and High School

On October 1, 2020, Natalia Dyer, Sadie Sink, and Gaten Matarazzo were spotted filming scenes at the Hawkins Middle School and Hawkins High School sets for Stranger Things season 4.

October 2, 2020: Social Media Posts from Sets

On October 2, 2020, the show's various social media accounts posted two photographs from different sets: A poster for a pep rally hanging in a hallway at Hawkins High, and a clapperboard in front of a grandfather clock in the Upside Down for Stranger Things season 4.

October 27, 2020: Levon Thurman-Hawke Cast

On October 27, 2020, it was reported that Maya Hawke's brother, Levon Thurman-Hawke, was cast in an undisclosed role in Stranger Things season 4.

November 20, 2020: New Cast Members Announced

On November 20, 2020, Jamie Campbell Bower, Eduardo Franco, and Joseph Quinn were cast as series regulars for the fourth season of Stranger Things, while Sherman Augustus, Mason Dye, Nikola Đuričko, and Robert Englund joined the cast in recurring roles.

January 27, 2021: Matthew Modine Filming Scenes

On January 27, 2021, Matthew Modine was spotted filming scenes in Atlanta for Stranger Things season 4.

March 15, 2021: Set Photos Leaked

On March 15, 2021, set photos were leaked showing a trailer park in Griffin, Georgia, dressed with tendrils from the Upside Down for Stranger Things season 4.

May 6, 2021: Second Teaser Released

A second teaser for Stranger Things season 4 was released on May 6, 2021.

June 9, 2021: More Cast Members Announced

On June 9, 2021, Amybeth McNulty, Myles Truitt, Regina Ting Chen, and Grace Van Dien joined the cast of Stranger Things season 4 in recurring roles.

June 2021: Filming Nearing Completion

In June 2021, David Harbour said that filming for Stranger Things season 4 was set to wrap in August. Also that month Joe Keery, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, and Caleb McLaughlin were spotted filming a scene that involved buying weapons from a store.

August 6, 2021: Sneak Peek Released

On August 6, 2021, a sneak peek of Stranger Things season 4 was released, featuring most of the core cast and announcing that the show would return in 2022.

August 2021: Fire Near Filming Sets

In August 2021, a fire with no injuries was reported near one of the filming sets for Stranger Things season 4.

September 2021: Filming Wraps

In September 2021, Noah Schnapp stated that filming for Stranger Things season 4 had wrapped.

September 25, 2021: Third Teaser Released

On September 25, 2021, a third teaser for Stranger Things season 4 was released, showcasing the house that was previously owned by the Creel family.

November 6, 2021: Final Teaser and Episode Titles Revealed

On November 6, 2021, the final teaser for Stranger Things season 4 was released, showing inside Will's and Eleven's lives in California, with the episode titles for the season being revealed on that same day.

February 17, 2022: Teaser Posters Released

On February 17, 2022, the social media accounts associated with Stranger Things released four teaser posters and a fifth poster announcing the release date of both volumes of season 4.

March 23, 2022: Stills Released

On March 23, 2022, Netflix released various stills from the upcoming fourth season of Stranger Things.

April 12, 2022: Official Trailer Released

On April 12, 2022, the first official trailer for Stranger Things season 4 was released online.

April 2022: Production Cost Revealed

In April 2022, The Wall Street Journal reported that the total cost to produce Stranger Things 4 was around $270 million, which amounts to roughly $30 million per episode.

May 2022: Finn Wolfhard Describes Season 4

In May 2022, Finn Wolfhard described season 4 as feeling like "five movies into one", comparing it to "Scooby-Doo-meets-Zodiac-killer" while also being a "stoner action-comedy" and a "Russian prison movie".

May 20, 2022: First Eight Minutes Released

On May 20, 2022, the first eight minutes of the season's first episode of Stranger Things 4 were released online.

May 27, 2022: Stranger Things 4 Volume 1 Release

On May 27, 2022, the first volume, consisting of seven episodes, of Stranger Things season 4 was released worldwide on Netflix.

May 28, 2022: Joseph Quinn Named Performer of the Week

On May 28, 2022, TVLine named Joseph Quinn the "Performer of the Week" for his performance in the Stranger Things episode "Chapter One: The Hellfire Club".

Loading Video...

May 30, 2022: Viewership Record

Netflix reported that by May 30, 2022, Stranger Things 4 had been viewed more than 287 million hours, surpassing the previous first-week viewership record from season two of Bridgerton.

Loading Video...

June 4, 2022: Sadie Sink Receives Honorable Mention

On June 4, 2022, TVLine gave Sadie Sink an honorable mention for her performance in the episode "Chapter Four: Dear Billy" of Stranger Things.

Loading Video...

July 1, 2022: Stranger Things 4 Volume 2 Release

On July 1, 2022, the second volume, consisting of two episodes, of Stranger Things season 4 was released worldwide on the streaming service Netflix.

July 2, 2022: Millie Bobby Brown Receives Honorable Mention

On July 2, 2022, Millie Bobby Brown received an honorable mention from TVLine for her performance in the penultimate episode "Chapter Eight: Papa" of Stranger Things.

Loading Video...

July 9, 2022: Caleb McLaughlin Named Performer of the Week

On July 9, 2022, TVLine named Caleb McLaughlin the "Performer of the Week" for his performance in the season's final episode "Chapter Nine: The Piggyback" of Stranger Things.

Loading Video...

2022: Season 4 Ranked Among Best TV Shows of 2022

In 2022, Stranger Things season 4 was recognized as one of the best TV shows of the year, achieving the number one spot on BuddyTV and PopBuzz lists. It also secured high rankings on other platforms, including Entertainment.ie (5th), NME (8th), ScreenCrush (10th), and Empire (11th). Nerdist included it in their unranked list as well.

Loading Video...