Stranger Things season 4 almost ended with *another* character death

Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things 4
(Image credit: Netflix)

Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer have revealed they originally planned to kill off another character in the final two episodes of the fourth season.

Spoilers for Stranger Things season 4 follow.

When asked by Collider if any thought was given to a different ending for Stranger Things season 4, volume 2, Matt Duffer replied, "In terms of who makes it, who lives or dies. I think there was a version where Dimitri, AKA Enzo, didn't make it. Then he ended up making it. But that's [the most] radical of a departure from the original idea versus what we ended up with."

Enzo may have survived over in Russia, but there were plenty in Hawkins (and beyond) that didn't make it. The Duffers have already established that Matthew Modine's Dr Brenner is really, really dead this time – while fans were left devastated by the death of metalhead Eddie Munson.

On the possibility of a return, Eddie's actor Joseph Quinn offered up an idea in an interview with the Radio Times.

"I don't know, I was thinking… me and Joe Keery were discussing ways in which I could [come back]. Maybe I'd be a figment of Gaten [Matarazzo]'s imagination or something like that if there could be some room for something a bit supernatural."

For more on Stranger Things, check out our guide to the Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2 ending, plus we run through who dies in Stranger Things season 4, Volume 2 and all the latest on Stranger Things season 5 – which will start being written later this summer.

Bradley Russell

I'm the Senior Entertainment Writer here at 12DOVE, focusing on news, features, and interviews with some of the biggest names in film and TV. On-site, you'll find me marveling at Marvel and providing analysis and room temperature takes on the newest films, Star Wars and, of course, anime. Outside of GR, I love getting lost in a good 100-hour JRPG, Warzone, and kicking back on the (virtual) field with Football Manager. My work has also been featured in OPM, FourFourTwo, and Game Revolution.

Read more
Mike, Eleven and Will in Stranger Things season 4 (2022)
Stranger Things season 5: Everything we know so far about the Netflix show's final chapter
A group of kids gathered around a table during the Netflix show Stranger Things.
Stranger Things star recalls reading the final episode with his cast mates for the very first time: "[It] was much more emotional than I thought it was going to be"
Stranger Things season 5 set photo
Stranger Things creators Duffer Brothers reveal they filmed over 650 hours of footage for the final season of the Netflix hit, as behind-the-scenes teaser is shown behind closed doors
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again showrunners say shocking death scene of a fan-favorite character was in the scrapped version of the show, but it occurred off-screen
Cobra Kai
Cobra Kai creator reveals a major cut finale moment – and it involves one of the Netflix series' big unanswered questions
Squid Game season 2
Squid Game season 2 ending explained: Who dies in the Netflix show? Will there be a season 3?
Latest in Sci-Fi Shows
Diego Luna in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy calls Cassian “Star Wars Jesus” ahead of the show’s return on Disney Plus
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner Tony Gilroy breaks silence on the weird release schedule: "It's a Disney decision"
Pedro Pascal as Joel in The Last of Us
The Last of Us is "better" than 28 Days Later, says movie writer Alex Garland: "This is so much more sophisticated and moving"
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor in Andor season 2
Andor season 2 showrunner talks the much-anticipated Star Wars moment that we haven't seen on screen before: "It's a very significant part of our show"
Fallout
Fallout season 2’s dazzling and dystopian New Vegas is coming to life in a new leaked video
Diego Luna as Cassian Andor
The first three episodes of the best Star Wars show are now available to watch for free ahead of the Andor season 2 premiere
Latest in News
Rise of the Ronin's photo mode offers some wonderful shots
On the heels of Rise of the Ronin's PC launch, its director says there's a "significant" amount of Japanese Switch gamers: "I am closely watching how this will change with the release of Switch 2"
Stardew Valley Castle Village mod
Stardew Valley Expanded creator is building an "even more ambitious" mod with a whole new city and "dungeons inspired by The Legend of Zelda"
Dino Crisis 2 art showing a young woman and man back-to-back amid tall green grass, both with their weapons drawn
Dino Crisis gets a fresh trademark filing by Capcom, but it might not mean the 26-year-old survival horror franchise will get a new installment like fans expect
Cujo
Netflix is making a brand new adaptation of Cujo, the infamous Stephen King book about a killer dog
Dragon Age 2
Veteran Dragon Age dev says one big delay is better than several small ones: "You are laying band-aid on top of band-aid on top of band-aid"
Death Stranding 2: On the Beach
Dark Souls 2 fans remind Death Stranding 2 director Hideo Kojima that he won’t be taking the DS2 acronym that easily