Hollywood, CA – November 8, 2025 – At the Los Angeles premiere of Stranger Things Season 5, actor Noah Schnapp opened up about his lifelong friendship with co-star Millie Bobby Brown and the rest of the beloved cast. The Netflix series, now in its tenth year, wraps up with its final season this holiday season, marking the end of a decade-long journey for the Hawkins gang.

A Decade of Friendship and Family

Schnapp, who first joined the series at age 11 as Will Byers, reflected on the personal impact of the show.

“It’s a show at its core about friendship and connection and belonging and embracing your differences. It makes you feel a part of something,” Schnapp told PEOPLE. “It makes you feel empowered to be proud, to be different and proud to be who you are. I love that about it, and I think that’s why others do as well.”

He emphasized the unique bond between the cast members:

“Of course Millie is my best friend for life, but they all truly are just family to me, and it shows on screen. Thank God we’re so close.”

Reflecting on Season 5

Schnapp recalled the excitement of reading the Season 5 scripts, describing the experience as “unbelievable.”

“I remember reading it in the shower the day before the table read and freaking out. I called my mom and told her she had to read it too,” he said, highlighting the anticipation and scale of the final season.

The Duffer Brothers set Season 5 in the fall of 1987, with Hawkins facing the aftermath of the Rifts opening and the heroes united in a mission to find and defeat Vecna. The government has quarantined the town, forcing Eleven into hiding, while the rest of the gang works together to face a darkness more powerful than anything they’ve encountered before.

Star-Studded Final Chapter

In addition to Schnapp and Brown, the final season features fan favorites Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Charlie Heaton, and Maya Hawke, among others.

“Just stay true to yourself,” Schnapp advised his younger self. “Don’t let anyone dim that light, and be present. You’re going to blink and find yourself on the last-season carpet saying goodbye.”

Release Schedule for Season 5

Stranger Things Season 5 will release in three parts on Netflix:

• Volume 1: November 26, 2025, at 8 p.m. ET
• Volume 2: December 25, 2025
• Finale: December 31, 2025

Seasons 1 through 4 are available for streaming on Netflix.