'Stranger Things' update: Season 3 to have eight episodes; show's finale might come sooner than expected

The end for the Netflix hit series "Stranger Things" is coming soon, causing fans to worry even before season 3 premieres. Unfortunately, season 3 will have a shorter run compared to its last season, with only eight episodes to be produced. Brothers and co-creators of the show, Matt and Ross Duffer, have said that season 3 is underway and season 4 will be its final season.

According to an interview with Vulture, Ross said that the show was never meant to last more than necessary in order to not lose credibility. However, this is not the case, according to show producer Shawn Levy. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Levy hinted at the possibility of a fifth season, due to the clamor of both fans and the agents who handle the careers of "Stranger Things" leads such as Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Noah Schnapp (Will), and Winona Ryder (Joyce).

As for season 3, the Duffer brothers have confirmed that a one-year time jump between season 2 and 3 is to be expected. Matt toldThe Hollywood Reporter: "Even if we wanted to hop into the action faster, we couldn't. Our kids are ageing. It forces you to do a time jump. But what I like is that it makes you evolve the show."

The Duffers also said that what fans can expect from season 3 is that it would be "something almost weirdly more intimate" and "a lot of fun." A dive into the backstory of Chief Hopper (David Harbour) has yet to be seen in the upcoming season, as well as a possible revelation regarding his daughter Sara (Elle Graham) and her history with the Upside-Down, the show's parallel universe said to be inhabited by a monster.

The show has gained a solid following worldwide and has also been recognized by the Screen Actors Guild for Outstanding Performance by an Ensemble in a Drama Series in 2017.

The confirmation from Netflix for season 3 came last Dec. 1, but the release date has yet to be confirmed. Filming is, however, said to begin in spring 2018 for its eight episodes, so fans might have to wait until 2019 to re-enter the mysterious Universe in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.

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