I Have A Sneaking Suspicion That Stranger Things Season 5 Will Be A Lot Like Stephen King’s The Stand

Stranger Things season 5 will finally arrive on Netflix in late November 2025, and it’s clear that it will be a massive production. For several years now, cast members have commented on the scale of each episode, and I keep thinking about how Maya Hawke described the season as “eight movies.” I’m excited to see Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) lead the charge against Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) but, as a long-time fan, can’t help but feel nervous and worried that every main character will get the happy ending they deserve.

Previous seasons of Stranger Things have been compared to some of Stephen King’s stories since the Duffer Brothers and King have created memorable child characters who come across the paranormal in creepy small towns. While it would be fun if IT inspired Stranger Things season 5, it would also make sense if the Duffer Brothers were thinking about King’s beloved, lengthy book The Stand when crafting the final season of their hit Netflix series.

Stranger Things Season 5 Could Tell A Post-Apocalyptic Story Similar To Stephen King’s The Stand

Stranger Things season 5 could tell a post-apocalyptic tale that is reminiscent of Stephen King’s The Stand. These final episodes could lean into the themes of good and evil from King’s popular novel and tell a story about a community facing an event that could end the world. Maybe Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) could build a group of followers who are loyal to his cause, which would make Vecna a lot like King’s villain, Randall Flagg.

While fans are still waiting for a Stranger Things season 5 trailer that teases certain storylines and big action scenes, it’s clear that Eleven and Vecna will face off. It’s also clear that Eleven will have a team behind her, and Vecna will likely have some Upside Down creatures on his side as well. The Stranger Things season 4 finale saw the people of Hawkins, Indiana trying to put the pieces together after an earthquake. In the final moments, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) gets a weird feeling, and Vecna and the Upside Down begin taking over Hawkins. This big moment could result in the world ending, which means Eleven has her work cut out for her. I’m confident that Eleven will win in the end.

While The Stand is a massive novel with more than a few characters, which is why it’s hard to imagine it being one movie, Stranger Things season 5 has a fairly large cast. There would be plenty of Hawkins residents ready to fight for survival and help each other, and it would be fascinating and powerful to watch this epic battle unfold.

Although The Stand is about a flu virus that is weaponized and there won’t be a pandemic in Stranger Things season 5, I still think the two stories could have a lot in common. Vecna and Randall Flagg are both terrifying and powerful beings who can make anyone do whatever they want, and if Vecna has a huge army, that’s going to make for thrilling TV.

The Duffer Brothers Are Big Fans Of Stephen King

Viewers have noted that many elements of Stranger Things, from the kid characters to the creepy villain at the heart of the story, feel like they came out of one of King’s books. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Matt and Ross Duffer talked about the horror author being a big inspiration. Ross said:

While it seems impossible to see Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and his friends riding bikes and not think of a classic Spielberg movie, Stranger Things and King’s stories share a lot of common horror/sci-fi elements. As it turns out, there might be a collaboration between these artists in the future. In 2021, The Hollywood Reporter shared that the Duffer Brothers were working with Steven Spielberg on a Netflix TV adaptation of King’s book Talisman, which he co-wrote with Peter Straub. While there haven’t been any updates since, fans would definitely be thrilled to see that come to life, especially since King recently posted on his Threads account that he is close to finishing Talisman 3.