Vecna just got another great enemy to face Stranger Things 5, with the news that Linda Hamilton is joining the cast for its fifth (and final) season. The announcement came from Tudum, Netflix’s annual fan event, and was made by Hamilton’s terminator opponent Arnold Schwarzenegger.
While we didn’t get any details about her character, Hamilton did reveal that she’s a fan of the show, joking that she “doesn’t know how to be a fangirl and an actress at the same time.”
No doubt her action legacy (and her incredible biceps) will prove useful in the battle for the fate of the world. Of course, all of this is assuming Hamilton is playing a good guy – there are plenty of bad guy options she could play (and knock out of the park) in the fight against Vecna. Season 4 ended with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and crew staring at a nearly destroyed Hawkins, and Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) still trying to merge the Upside Down into the mainstream world. The final battle has yet to fully begin, meaning that Hamilton’s character – whoever it is – can join either side.
Fans will probably have to wait a while to find out. Although season 4 premiered in two parts in 2022, there is still no official release date for it Stranger things season 5.
In the meantime, fans can revisit Hamilton’s ’80s filmography to better understand the sheer amount of badass she brings to the table. If they finish that before the new season is out – which unfortunately could be a while – then there are plenty of other ’80s stars who have joined Stranger things, whose back catalogs they were able to catch up with. Other than that, we’re all just killing time until Stranger Things 5 (or the cartoon spin-off of the universe) finally debut.