****Spoiler Alert****
Stranger Things has been officially renewed for a fourth season, and there are many theories about what’s coming next for everyone’s favorite characters.
The Duffer Brothers, creators of the series, released a trailer for season four on Sept. 30. There are typically clues hidden in these teasers for fans to contemplate until the next release, and many are already speculating on these clues.
One of the biggest clues in the video is the line, “We’re not in Hawkins anymore,” written across the screen towards the beginning of the video. Viewers have a number of theories that could explain how this hint could reflect on the next season.
One such theory is that the new season will have a larger presence in Russia, due to the ending of season three hinting at an American prisoner in the Russian prison.
Fans also wonder who this prisoner could be. It is widely believed that we are meant to assume this is a reference to Jim Hopper being alive and held prisoner, though he is currently believed to have died at the end of season three.
Another theory followed the storyline of the Byers family and El moving away at the end of last season. Some question whether the new season may take place in this new town, with the other characters coming to save the day. Many fans dislike this theory because they are attached to the nostalgia of Hawkins as a representation of the show.
One of the biggest theories, which links the line “We’re not in Hawkins anymore” and the image of a clock in the teaser video, is the idea of time travel.
The Duffer Brothers have said that this isn’t out of the realm of possibility but haven’t hinted at it any more than that.
Another question fans have for this theory is what the idea of time travel could mean for their favorite deceased characters, mainly Hopper, Billy and Barb. Many are hopeful that this storyline could bring back one or all of the characters we’ve lost in the first three seasons.
Filming for the new season is scheduled to start in October of 2019, and based on the filming time and release dates of previous seasons, it’s believed we may see Stranger Things 4 in late 2020 or early 2021.
Until then, fans will have to keep binging past seasons and speculating over what’s to come.
