The 4th season of Stranger Things left viewers in the midst of massive tension as the Upside Down infiltrated the town of Hawkins. In an interview with SFX Magazine, series co-creator Ross Duffer explained that to show the consequences of this seismic event, they had to build the destroyed section of Hawkins town center from scratch. Duffer emphasized the impossibility of occupying and destroying a real town for months, saying, “We couldn’t shoot this season in a small town in Atlanta.”
This necessity also meant the realization of a dream. Duffer stated that the set built for the final season of Stranger Things is the largest set ever constructed for the series. The team built this ruined area and the military-occupied sections from the ground up using practical sets, as if making “an old movie.” Duffer conveyed the team’s excitement for the project and the passion of the sculptors and painters in recreating everything.
Commitment to Practical Effects and New Headquarters
The Duffer Brothers’ devotion to practical sets is part of their love letter to 80s pop culture. Despite the ease of shooting in front of blue or green screens, Ross Duffer said they believe “it can always be felt,” which is why they wanted to build as much as possible. This pursuit of authenticity was also appreciated by the cast; the actors said they felt like they were stepping into a “real” world.
This new set also gave the heroes a new operations base: a radio station. This “beautiful set,” along with the more epic and horror-focused massive sets we’ll see in later episodes, takes the final season’s production value to the peak.
Viewers will soon be able to see this colossal structure and Ruined Hawkins when Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1 drops on Netflix on 26 November 2025.
Series Information
- Series: Stranger Things (Season 5)
- Platform: Netflix
- Production Detail: For the first time in series history, the destroyed and military-occupied sections of Hawkins town center were built from scratch using practical sets.
- New Base: The characters’ new operations headquarters is a radio station.
- Release Date: Season 5, Part 1 premieres on Netflix on 26 November 2025.
