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.