Summary

Linda Hamilton called filming Stranger Things season 5 in Atlanta a "long haul," with action-packed scenes starting off the shoot.
Other cast members have compared season 5 to "eight movies" with a film-length runtime, teasing scary battles and more time in the Upside Down.
Hamilton won't watch herself on screen in season 5, adding star power to the final season, with speculations about her character Dr. Kay's connection.

Linda Hamilton's role in Stranger Things season 5 is one of the most anticipated new parts, and the star has shared what it was like when she shot her scenes.

Most famous for playing Sarah Connor in the action-packed Terminator franchise, Hamilton has appeared in several popular TV shows as well. While she's a staple of the sci-fi genre, having played General McCallister on the series Resident Alien, she's also appeared on the comedies Weeds and Chuck. Now, as fans get ready for the Netflix show's final season and can't wait to return to the Upside Down, Hamilton has talked about her time on the Stranger Things set in Atlanta, Georgia.

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By Aya Tsintziras

Linda Hamilton Shares What Filming Stranger Things Season 5 Was Like

terminator-2-linda-hamilton — Linda Hamilton as Sarah Connor in Terminator 2

In an interview with Comingsoon.net, Linda Hamilton talked about her experience filming Stranger Things season 5 in Atlanta, Georgia. She called it "a long haul" and said, "We took a year to shoot eight episodes." She explained that rather than shooting some quieter character moments first, she shot her action-packed scenes at the beginning. The actress said:

"my first week of shooting was like huge."

Hamilton continued:

"I was like, well, “This has to be a partial ’cause there’s no way they’re going for this entire stunts, special effects, big acting, lots of character stuff.” And that’s my first day, because every day that they shoot, they have big scenes like that."

Hamilton's comments are in line with what other cast members have said about the fifth and final season. Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler, commented on the lengthy season, and said "the runtime is definitely film length." He also mentioned that there are many action-packed scenes. Maya Hawke, who portrays the clever Robin Buckley, called Stranger Things season 5 "basically, eight movies."

Hamilton previously shared that she's a big fan of Stranger Things but said her casting has "ruined" the hit show. She told Us Weekly that she isn't going to tune into the fifth season since she doesn't watch herself on screen.

While details about Hamilton's character aren't available, many think she will be called Dr. Kay, which is intriguing. Perhaps she knows Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine), who may or may not show up again, or is on her own. Either way, Hamilton lends some star power to the highly anticipated last season.

In 2022, David Harbour said that Stranger Things season 5 would begin shooting in 2023. However, the production was delayed because of the 2023 WGA/SAG-AFTRA strikes, and shooting started in January 2024. There's no doubt that this was a massive production, and fans anticipate scary battles, monsters beyond just Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), and even more time spent in the Upside Down.

Hamilton isn't the only new cast member in Stranger Things season 5. Alex Breaux, Jake Connelly, and Nell Fisher are also appearing in the final season. Breaux will play Lt. Akers and Connelly will portray a character named Derek. Fisher will play Mike and Nancy Wheeler's (Natalia Dyer) younger sister, Holly Wheeler. There is a fan theory that Holly will go missing, which could inspire Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) to find her. It will be interesting to see if this comes true, or if there is another plotline that Holly is part of.

Fans have been waiting a long time for these new episodes, and while some don't mind the lengthy wait, others are disappointed with the three-part release schedule. Episodes 1 through 4 will be released on November 26th, 2025, followed episodes 5 through 7 on December 25th, 2025. The series finale will come out on December 31st, 2025.

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