When it comes to ’80s icons, few command the same kind of respect and reverence as Linda Hamilton, the actress who portrayed the indomitable Sarah Connor from the Terminator franchise.
Now, in a twist that has set the internet ablaze, Hamilton is joining the hit Netflix series, Stranger Things, for its fifth and final season.
The announcement of her casting was made during Netflix’s 2023 global TUDUM fan event and has quickly become the talk of the town.
Netflix’s Stranger Things has carved a niche for itself by seamlessly blending the nostalgia of 80’s pop culture with a unique blend of sci-fi and horror. Over the years, the show has gained critical acclaim and a fanatically devoted fanbase, and much of this success can be attributed to its nods to ’80s film and TV, reflected in the casting of actors from iconic ’80s films. The ensemble has featured Full Metal Jacket star Matthew Modine, Freddy Krueger actor Robert Englund, The Goonies breakout Sean Astin, The Princess Bride’s Cary Elwes, and Mad About You star Paul Reiser, to name a few.
With Hamilton’s casting, the show adds another layer of ’80s authenticity to its narrative, particularly as it heads towards a climactic showdown with Vecna, the series’ primary antagonist. While specifics of Hamilton’s role have yet to be revealed, one can only speculate on the exciting possibilities her character could bring to the series’ final showdown.
Hamilton is renowned for her breakthrough performances in The Terminator and Terminator 2: Judgment Day. Her role as Sarah Connor, a woman morphed by fate into a hardened warrior, has been universally praised, making her one of the most iconic action heroines in film history. Following her reprisal of the role in the 2019 movie, Terminator: Dark Fate, her inclusion in Stranger Things Season 5 has added a thrilling dimension to the series’ endgame.
Hamilton’s casting comes as a surprise considering previous statements from Stranger Things creators, the Duffer Brothers. Last July, Matt Duffer said they wouldn’t be adding any new faces to the fifth and final season. It seems, however, that they couldn’t resist the allure of including another nostalgic cast signing to help close out the show.
Stranger Things is no stranger to nostalgia. Its narrative fabric has been intricately woven with threads from ’80s pop culture, from the John Carpenter-inspired synth score to its Stephen King-esque tale of childhood friendship confronting otherworldly terror. With the addition of Hamilton, an undeniable icon of ’80s cinema, the series further cements its status as a tribute to that decade’s unique aesthetic.
The casting news, while the highlight of Stranger Things’ time at TUDUM, wasn’t the only update for the show’s fifth and final season. The Duffer Brothers have previously announced that Season 5 will be “a culmination of all the seasons” with “a little bit of everything” from the past.
Despite the excitement around Hamilton’s casting, fans of the show have to face the reality: as of now, there’s no official release date for Stranger Things Season 5. The ongoing writers’ strike has pushed back production schedules, but this delay only serves to heighten the suspense around what promises to be a stellar final season.
As fans eagerly await Stranger Things’ return, they can look forward to seeing how Hamilton’s character will impact the final showdown with Vecna. Regardless of her role, one thing is certain – her addition will bring an extra layer of depth, nostalgia, and excitement to the series’ final chapter.
