A Hollywood legend has been ‘dragged out of retirement’ for Stranger Things’s final season.
Frank Darabont, 64 who is the maker of the 1994 classic Shawshank Redemption, has briefly come out of his 11-year retirement for the Netflix hit’s fifth season.
The creator, who is also behind The Green Mile, has not directed a flick for more than a decade, with his last credit listed in 2013 for drama series Mob City.
As the fifth and final series of Stranger Things passes the halfway production milestone, Frank will be dusting off his old director’s chair for two episodes.
With the Netflix sci-fi fantasy series edging closer, Frank said: ‘What really dragged me out of retirement was that my wife and I really love this show.
A Hollywood legend has been ‘dragged out of retirement’ for Stranger Things’s final season
Frank Darabont, 64 who is the maker of the 1994 classic Shawshank Redemption, has briefly come out of his 11-year retirement for the Netflix hit’s fifth season
‘Our content now is so filled with horrible people doing horrible things for greedy reasons but Stranger Things has so much heart. That positivity is something I really responded to.’
But despite his legendary comeback into the world of showbiz, the Oscar-nominated creative told The Daily Beast that he had not missed the business.
‘Who knows? I haven’t missed the business but I have missed being on set with creative people… It may well be one and done, but we’ve still got time’, he quipped.
In July Stranger Things fans were given a first look into the final season of the hit Netflix show after production finally reached the halfway mark in production.
Netflix offered fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of the beloved sci-fi show, as viewers and stars alike prepare to say goodbye to the nostalgic series.
Returning cast includes Winona Ryder, 52, Millie Bobby Brown, 20, Finn Wolfhard, 22, Noah Schnapp, 19, Caleb McLaughlin, 22, Gaten Matarazzo, 21, Sadie Sink, 22, Joe Keery, 32, and Maya Hawke, 26.
The show debuted in 2016 and much of the cast were just children when the series hit Netflix.
‘So I started when I was 10. I am now turning 20 years old. It feels very weird,’ star Millie says as she arrives to the set.
In July Stranger Things fans were given a first look into the final season of the hit Netflix show after production finally reached the halfway mark in production
Stars Winona Ryder, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Noah Schnapp , Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo , Sadie Sink , Joe Keery, and Maya Hawke are returning to the show
‘This is home,’ star Gaten, 21, says. ‘You just remember why you’re doing it and how much fun you have.’
The nearly 90-second long trailer begins with one person musing, ‘We’re about halfway through filming and it’s exciting. So much going on.’
Maya holds a clapboard as Joe says, ‘This is day one!’
‘On Stranger Things five!’ Maya chimes in.
Next, Sadie Sink walks through the massive warehouse where their costumes are stored.
Viewers are also shown some of the wild special effects – which include a gooey, blood-like substance adding to the eerie mood.
In addition, viewers are shown some of the wild stunts set to occur next season – with one man shown being catapulted through the woods and another falling off a tree.
Eleven (Millie) is shown wielding her powers as she jumps out of hiding and dramatically opens her fist for the camera.
The next installment will also see the cast at Hawkins High, as the group are shown walking through the halls together.
Stranger Things will officially be coming to an end later this year, but fans have been given a sneak peek into the final season
Millie Bobby Brown is shown heading to the set after reflecting on just how long she had been working on the show
Netflix offered fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the making of the beloved sci-fi show, as the stars prepare to bid farewell to Hawkins, Indiana
The show shot scenes at Hawkins High
Fans were given a glimpse into the wild set
Linda Hamilton has joined the cast for season five
The next season will also include crazy stunts – including this one of one of the characters falling off a tree
It comes several days after Ross Duffer, the co-creator of the show, revealed the final season had reached the halfway mark in production
Speculations among followers hinted that with production now halfway completed, Stranger Things season five might potentially premiere as early as January 2025
Fans were also given a look at some of the new stars joining the cast – Nell Fisher, Jake Connelly, Alex Breaux, and Terminator alum Linda Hamilton.
‘I love this show so much,’ Linda muses as she arrives to the set. ‘I really am a fan.’
Fans reacted on X to the new sneak peek, with one musing, ‘Stranger things f**king did it again best show ever.’
‘Aaahhh i soo can’t wait for this masterpiece to happen, but i am also very sad that this will be the End of an Era… i never ever wanted to miss this in my life,’ one fan posted.
Another posted: ‘Stranger Things f**king did it again the best show ever.’
‘#StrangerThings5 #StrangerThings Can’t wait!!!’ one posted.
Another wrote: ‘I’m excited for #StrangerThings5 but very nervous for these characters. I miss Steve Harrington.’
‘I’m so glad to see them together again,’ one posted.
‘So unbelievably excited for this to be released,’ another wrote.
The new sneak peek comes several days after Ross Duffer, the co-creator of the show, revealed the final season had reached the halfway mark in production.
Alongside a behind-the-scenes photo of the cast and crew, Duffer wrote: ‘Week 24. Happy halfway to the best cast and crew ever.’
The post also featured a video showing Finn, who plays Mike Wheeler, dropping a marble into a jar to track their progress on the show’s production days.
Speculation among followers hinted that with production now halfway completed, Stranger Things season five might premiere as early as January 2025.
A premiere date has yet to be unveiled.