Fans have been wondering whether there is a possibility that the final episode of Stranger Things will be released in theaters due to its feature-length runtime and epic scope that is worthy of the big screen experience.
As we're approaching the release of the show's final season later this year, there have been theories and speculations online on what could happen in the last chapter of the Netflix mega-hit. There have also been reports that the episodes will be longer than the usual length that we see on a TV drama, with some even reaching a runtime similar to feature-length movies.
Will Netflix Release the Final Episode of Stranger Things in Theaters?
Speaking with Variety, Matt Duffer of The Duffer Brothers, the creators of Stranger Things, expressed interest in releasing the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters.
He cited the success of the sing-along version of KPop Demon Hunters and the upcoming IMAX release of Greta Gerwig's Chronicles of Narnia as signs that Netflix might allow them to give the hit show's final episode the big screen treatment.
"People don’t get to experience how much time and effort is spent on sound and picture, and they’re seeing it at reduced quality. More than that, it’s about experiencing it at the same time with fans," Matt said.
However, when Bela Bajaria, the head of global TV at Netflix, was asked about the possibility of releasing the final episode of Stranger Things in theaters, she shot down the idea, as she believes that it needs to be consistent with how the previous seasons were watched.
"A lot of people — a lot, a lot, a lot of people — have watched Stranger Things on Netflix. It has not suffered from lack of conversation or community or sharing or fandom. I think releasing it on Netflix is giving the fans what they want," she said.
For now, it looks like fans should not expect any theatrical release of the final episode of Stranger Things later this year, despite the demand and interest from the creators themselves.
What to Expect in the Final Season of Stranger Things
According to the logline for the final season of Stranger Things, set in the fall of 1987, "Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts, and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished — his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding."
"As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming — and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone — the full party — standing together, one last time."
The ensemble for the show's final season includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Priah Ferguson, Brett Gelman, Jamie Campbell Bower, Cara Buono, Amybeth McNulty, Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, Alex Breaux, and Linda Hamilton.
The final season will be released later this year across three phases: Volume 1 (four episodes) on November 26, Volume 2 (three episodes) on Christmas Day, December 25, and Volume 3 (the final episode) on New Year's Eve, December 31.
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