How Stranger Things Is Already Doing Things Differently For Season 4

Stranger Things Nancy Wheeler Natalia Dyer Netflix
(Image credit: Netflix)

It is an interesting time to be a Stranger Things fan. The show had to shut down production on Season 4 amid the coronavirus pandemic along with many others. That does not mean that things have been at a complete halt. Now comes word that Season 4 is already doing things differently.

Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler on Netflix’s smash hit, reveals that the show is taking a different approach to Season 4. How is that? It has to do with Stranger Things’ writers completing all of Season 4’s scripts ahead of filming resuming on it. On if there will now be nine episodes instead of eight, Dyer told The Hollywood Reporter:

It appears to be. Normally, we get the first few scripts, and then they have to keep writing due to the schedule of it. And it takes a while to craft a script. So, normally, there’s a kind of 'writing as we’re going,' but it seems they’ve had enough time. I think it’s maybe been a blessing for the writers, in some way, because they had the time to just sit down, think and create. So, yeah, it appears to be that they’ve got it all down.

Fans of the sci-fi series still have a while to wait before they learn if Stranger Things ends up leaving Hawkins in Season 4. One more episode may not seem like much on the surface. However, an additional hour in the world of the Netflix series is more than many likely expected to get.

As for the scripts already getting completed, Natalia Dyer thinks that will be a good thing for Stranger Things’ writers, and I think she is onto something. Before production got shut down, the cast had gotten a peek at the first half of Season 4’s scripts.

Noah Schnapp had glowing things to say about those first installments while adding he looked forward to seeing where the series goes in the second half. Schnapp will probably not have to wait too long to find out, if everyone gets to read through Season 4 sooner rather than later. There is probably something to be said for knowing where Stranger Things is headed from the outset.

While a lot of those plot developments will be kept secret, fans do know they have more to look forward to from Lucas’ younger sister Erica and Murray. Erica and Murray’s portrayers were both promoted to series regular status for Season 4. As for Stranger Things’ release window, fans will have to wait and see how much the coronavirus impacts it.

David Harbour has said that he believes the sci-fi drama’s early 2021 release date will be pushed back. If it is and by how much remains to be seen. Stranger Things has to start filming again first. There is a lot for the cast to look forward to when they get back to work, including all of Season 4’s scripts.

You can catch previous seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix, along with lots of new 2020 content. A release date for Season 4 has yet to be set by Netflix. While you wait for word on one, there will be plenty of fall premieres to keep you entertained.

Britt Lawrence

Like a contented Hallmark movie character, Britt happily lives in the same city she grew up in. Along with movies and television, she is passionate about competitive figure skating. She has been writing about entertainment for 5 years, and as you may suspect, still finds it as entertaining to do as when she began.