Netflix has announced that Stranger Things season 4 will premiere on May 27. However, this fourth season is almost twice as long as previous seasons, and so will be split into two volumes, with the second batch of episodes being released five weeks later on July 1.
The news, announced on Netflix's website, comes accompanied by a letter from The Duffer Brothers, the creators of the show. As well as explaining that this fourth season has a runtime of almost double the previous seasons, the creative duo also revealed that Stranger Things will conclude with its fifth season.
Stranger Things Season 4 Location Posters
"With nine scripts, over eight-hundred pages, almost two years of filming, thousands of visual effects shots, and a runtime nearly twice the length of any previous season, Stranger Things 4 was the most challenging season yet, but also the most rewarding one," said The Duffer Brothers.
"It's also the beginning of the end," they continued. "Seven years ago, we planned out the complete story arc for Stranger Things. At the time, we predicted the story would last four to five seasons. It proved too large to tell in four, but — as you'll soon see for yourselves — we are now hurtling towards our finale. Season 4 will be the penultimate season; season 5 will be the last."
At nine episodes, season 4 has a similar episode count to previous seasons of Stranger Things. It appears, then, that each episode may be feature-length in runtime to make the season as large as The Duffer Brothers claim.
As for the plot of season 4, Netflix offered this synopsis: It’s been six months since the Battle of Starcourt, which brought terror and destruction to Hawkins. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends are separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.
For more from Stranger Things, check out season 4's episode titles and the official map of Hawkins. And while season 5 may be the final one, there could be more Stranger Things in the form of spin-off shows.
Matt Purslow is IGN's UK News and Entertainment Writer.