The highly anticipated final chapter of the global phenomenon, Stranger Things, has officially landed on Netflix, bringing with it a significant leap forward in time that has left fans curious about the current ages of their favourite characters from Hawkins.
The Big Time Jump Explained
The narrative of Stranger Things Season 5 makes a substantial leap into the future. Picking up after the epic confrontation with Vecna, the story has advanced by roughly 18 months, moving the action to 3rd November, 1987. This creative decision means the young heroes audiences have grown up with are now older, though many remain in their teenage years.
How Old Are the Main Characters Now?
At the start of this final season, the core group of friends are navigating the challenges of being seventeen-year-olds. Eleven, portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown, is now 17 years old. Interestingly, the actress herself is 21. Similarly, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin), and Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo) are all also 17. The actors, however, range in age from 21 to 24, with McLaughlin being the oldest of this group.
Max Mayfield, played by Sadie Sink, is also 17 in the new season, while Sink is 23. The younger teens are joined by their older allies, who have also aged. Jonathan Byers is now 19, though actor Charlie Heaton is 31. Both Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer, 30) and Robin Buckley (Maya Hawke, 27) are also 19 in the show's timeline.
The Age Gap Between Actors and Characters
One of the most notable aspects of this final season is the increasing age difference between the cast and their on-screen counterparts. The most significant gap belongs to Joe Keery, who plays the beloved Steve Harrington. At the start of season five, Steve is 20 years old, while Keery himself is 33, making him the oldest member of the younger cast in reality.
The first part of Stranger Things season 5 became available for streaming on Thursday, 27th November. Fans can look forward to the release of Part 2 on 25th December, followed by the series finale on 31st December, bringing the epic saga to its conclusion.
