LOS ANGELES, CA—Production delays have aged Stranger Things’ child actors, forcing Season 5 to shift from Hawkins, Indiana’s schools to a haunted nursing home. The Stranger-Things-nursing-home setting reflects the cast’s new reality.
The actors, once 11 to 14, now fit roles as elderly residents. “My arthritis slows me down,” said Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers. The Hawkins Senior Care Center, described as the show’s scariest locale, teems with eerie vibes and aging extras. For more on Stranger Things, visit Netflix.
“It’s grim,” said co-showrunner Matt Duffer. “Death looms, both from supernatural threats and natural causes.” Several extras passed away during filming, adding to the chilling atmosphere.
The pivot is unprecedented. “We planned for Hawkins High,” Ross Duffer told Variety. “But the cast needs canes for stairs now.” Learn about TV production at Variety. At press time, Netflix planned “in loving memory” credits, expecting the cast’s advanced age to outlast the release.