War is on the Horizon in the New ‘Stranger Things 4’ Trailer

(L to R) Eduardo Franco as Argyle, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, and Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler in 'Stranger Things' Season 4. Photo courtesy of Netflix © 2022.

Just when the residents of Hawkins, Indiana (population: dwindling fast) thought that they’d finally put supernatural threats behind them following the traumatic events of the Battle of Starcourt, the new trailer for ‘Stranger Things’ fourth season suggests that their troubles are far from over. War is coming… and no-one is safe.

And that includes those such as Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) and his family, who moved away to Southern California at the end of the last season. While Eleven is having trouble fitting into a new school, she’s soon informed by Sam Owens (Paul Reiser) that her particular set of mysterious skills are needed back in Hawkins.

There’s just one small problem with that plan: she doesn’t have them anymore.

Yet back in Hawkins, things continue to be, well, strange. Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin) are facing their own challenges, moving on up to Hawkins high school and all the potential bullying, hormonal issues and fashion challenges that presents.

But possibly having an even harder time is Sadie Sink’s Max Mayfield, who is still grieving the death of brother Billy (Dacre Montgomery), who sacrificed himself in the big battle. Not only is Max struggling with loss, but she also appears to have develop some interesting new abilities of her own, if the shot of her floating above the others is anything to go by.

Whether it’s her or someone else achieving that, they’ll need the help, as something even more terrifying is on the way and a giant conflict is bubbling away, with some of it tied to the creepy new location of the Creel House.

Then there’s poor old Jim Hopper (David Harbour), locked away in a prison in Kamchatka, Russia, where life seems to be just as rough – what we must wonder now is how he gets free? We’ll get that answer, plus some flashbacks to fill in other story gaps in a season that promises to wrap the plot up.

For those who might not have seen the announcement a couple of months ago, the new season is so epic and huge that the creators (and Netflix) have opted to split it in two.

“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,” wrote the Duffer brothers. “Everyone involved is incredibly proud of the results, and we can’t wait to share it with you. Given the unprecedented length, and to get it to you as soon as possible, Season 4 will be released in two volumes.”

Expect the first batch of episodes on May 27th, with the second haul following on July 1st. Bad news for those who were looking forward to their latest ‘Things’ binge, but good news in that the season will be able to contain more of the sprawling story.

David Harbour as Jim Hopper in 'Stranger Things' Season 4. Photo courtesy of Netflix © 2022.