First Stranger Things season 4 trailer confirms Hopper is alive

The first Stranger Things season 4 teaser trailer is here and it confirms what we'd all hoped: Hopper is very much alive, albeit looking the little worse for wear and sporting a buzz cut. Watch above.

We start the Stranger Things trailer where we left off last year: in the wintry wastes of Russia. The brief 30-second clip shows several Russian soldiers overseeing a prison camp, including one general that the camera lingers in for more than a second. Could he be featuring in some way in season 4?

As the camera pushes through the stream of prisoners working on constructing train tracks, it stops at the very end. The lone figure pulls off his hat to reveal it's actually Chief Hopper (David Harbour), bald, battered and bruised. That's a word away from the hat/moustache/loud shirt combo he's best known for. Someone get him a blanket.

Season 3 finished with words that someone called "The American" was rotting in a cell in Eastern Europe. Turns out, that American – as was much speculated – is almost certainly Hopper. The show's creators, the Duffer brothers, said of the return: "We’re excited to officially confirm that production on Stranger Things 4 is now underway – and even more excited to announce the return of Hopper! 

"Although it’s not all good news for our American; he is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both human...and other. Meanwhile, back in the states, a new horror is beginning to surface, something long buried, something that connects everything…."

They added: "Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest and most frightening season yet, and we cannot wait for everyone to see more. In the meantime–- pray for the American."

There's still no confirmation of a Stranger Things season 4 release date. However, there are a few clues out there that hint when the hit show might return to Netflix, with some pointing to another holiday-themed release (via Inverse) December.

Need something to add to your watchlist until then? Here are the best shows on Netflix.

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.

Latest in Horror Shows
Kaitlyn Dever as Abby in The Last Of Us season 2
The Last of Us showrunner says newcomer Kaitlyn Dever was "within The Last of Us DNA" before the show existed
Clicker and Ellie
The Last of Us season 2 trailer brings the heart and the horror back to Joel and Ellie
Rick and Michonne in The Walking Dead: The Ones Who Live
The Walking Dead boss looks to squash hopes of The Ones Who Live season 2 – though that doesn't mean we won't ever see Rick and Michonne again
The Last of Us season 2 first look
The Last of Us season 2 will tell "a different version" of the story, but Neil Druckmann loves the changes they've made: "Its DNA is in there"
The Xenomorph in Alien: Earth
New look at Alien: Earth has fans theorizing over whether they can hear a Predator in the background
Danny Huston in 30 Days of Night
The Hunger Games director to follow up Stephen King adaptation with Netflix series based on "30 Days of Night meets The Last of Us" horror podcast
Latest in News
Jack Quaid in Novocaine
The Boys star Jack Quaid's commitment to the bit is unmatched as his latest marketing stunt for upcoming action movie Novocaine goes viral
George R. R. Martin in Dark Winds season 3
Game of Thrones creator makes sudden cameo in TV show for apparent joke about The Winds of Winter
Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil: Born Again had Disney Plus' biggest premiere of 2025, but its viewership is lower than Agatha All Along and The Acolyte
Beyond the Ice Palace 2
After 37 years, this Commodore 64 classic returns with a new Metroidvania sequel that gives serious old-school Castlevania vibes
an ancient spaceship in the pixel art style of ftl
I just watched the first 10 seconds of this indie roguelike’s trailer, and it's not even trying to be subtle about being an unlicensed 40K game
The House of the Dead first look 'Test Subjects'
Resident Evil director offers update on his horror movie adaptation of Until Dawn-sounding video game from over 20 years ago: "It's going to be very, very scary"