While British folks get ready to flock to London’s West End to watchStranger Things: The First Shadow, series director and producerShawn Levy(Free Guy) took to Instagram to share a video that teases the events that might take place in the stage play. The post also revealed that, even though the adaptation works as a prequel to the Netflix hit series, it will introduce elements that might be relevant for the fifth and final season of the show.
Stranger Things: The First Shadowwill take audience members even further into the past: The story takes place in 1959 Hawkins — way beforeWill Byers(Noah Schnapp) disappeared and set the story as we know it in motion. Details of the play are still kept under wraps, but we know so far that the new story will center around Hawkins teenagers whose life gets impacted by the arrival of a new student. Three of those students are Jim Hopper,Joyce Maldonado, and Bob Newby – whose older versions in the flagship series are played byDavid Harbour,Winona Ryder,andSean Astin.
The teaser posted by Levy highlights important moments from the four seasons ofStranger Thingsshown on the screen of avintage TV, with a focus on the first one. Since the play’s timeline is closer to Season 1, it’s likely that the audience will witness events that tie in directly with the beginning of the series. The teaser ends with the characteristicStranger Thingsred light invading an empty stage.
RELATED:Linda Hamilton Is Going to the Upside Down in ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5
What Else Do We Know AboutStranger Things: The First Shadow?
Stranger Things: The First Shadowis written byKate Tefry, a writer and co-executive producer in the series. The book is based on a story she developed withseries creatorsRoss Duffer,Matt Duffer,andJack Thorne. The play is directed byStephen Daldry(The Crown) and co-directorJustin Martin. In an official statement,the Duffer Brothershad nothing but praise for Daldry and Tefry as they shared their excitement for the play:
“We are beyond excited about ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow.’ Collaborating with the brilliant Stephen Daldry has been nothing short of inspiring, and Kate Trefry has written a play that is at turns surprising, scary, and heartfelt. You will meet endearing new characters, as well as very familiar ones, on a journey into the past that sets the groundwork for the future of ‘Stranger Things.’ We’re dying to tell you more about the story but won’t - it’s more fun to discover it for yourself. Can’t wait to see you nerds in London!”
Season 5 ofStranger Things' production is currently halteddue to the ongoing WGA strike.
Stranger Things: The First Shadowis set to open at the Phoenix Theatre in West End on June 18, 2025. It will run all the way through August 07, 2025.
