The creators of the global Netflix phenomenon, Stranger Things, have directly addressed and dismissed swirling online speculation about the show's conclusion. Matt and Ross Duffer confirmed they did not film multiple endings for the highly anticipated fifth and final season.
Fan Theories Run Rampant Ahead of Finale
Prior to the season's release, a perfect storm of cast comments and paparazzi leaks fuelled intense speculation amongst the fanbase. Theories ignited after actor Noah Schnapp revealed the cast would not watch the finale until it aired publicly, leading some to suspect the true ending was being kept secret from the actors themselves.
Social media was alight with conjecture. One viral tweet asked if multiple endings were shot to prevent the cast from knowing the outcome. Another fan theorised that alternate scenes were filmed deliberately to mislead potential leakers. The speculation intensified when cast member Caleb McLaughlin hinted that his character's conclusion was "different" from others.
The Duffer Brothers Set the Record Straight
Speaking exclusively to Capital Buzz on the red carpet at the London premiere in November 2025, the Duffer brothers put the rumours to bed. While they expressed admiration for other series that employ the tactic, they firmly stated it was not their approach for Stranger Things.
"Oh no. No no," Matt Duffer said. "I mean, we wouldn't have—I love when I hear people do that but I'm like, 'How do you have the time?! Oh my god! The energy to, A: write it and then shoot it? Are you crazy? No. No."
This confirmation means that the leaked paparazzi photos, which showed Joe Keery and Gaten Matarazzo filming their final scenes as Steve and Dustin, and David Harbour with Finn Wolfhard on the Hawkins memorial bench, were indeed genuine and featured in the final cut.
Crafting a Finale True to the Show
When it came to crafting the ending, the Duffers revealed they studied the finales of acclaimed series like Six Feet Under, Friday Night Lights, and The Sopranos for inspiration. Ross Duffer explained to Variety that the most successful conclusions stayed authentic.
"The best ones were very true to themselves," Ross noted. "The shows that are trying to be super clever — I think that’s where it can go wrong really quickly." The final season focuses on Will Byers' deep connection to the supernatural threats of Vecna and the Mind Flayer.
Ultimately, the creators have chosen a single, definitive path to conclude the saga of Hawkins, Indiana, assuring fans that the ending they witnessed was the only one ever conceived for filming.
