Stranger Things Cast Now: Here’s What They Are Doing These Days

They say that when you see an actor growing up on a TV show as they play a character for several years, you create a special bond with them. One such television series is Stranger Things, which debuted on Netflix for the first time six years ago. So, the kids who carried the series forward magically and made it one of the best sci-fi series on Netflix aren’t kids anymore. Now, as Stranger Things Season 5 has already been released, I’m sure you would want to know what your beloved Stranger Things cast is up to now? So, let’s dive in without any further ado.

1. Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven

The fearless heroine, Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, never failed to stun us with her last-minute heroic entries and never-give-up attitude in Stranger Things. The character entered the game in Season 1 and instantly hooked the fandom with her innocent facial expressions. She also intrigued us with the crazy supernatural powers she harbored. Be it the Demogorgon or the Upside-Down monster, Vecna, El was the one who came to the rescue.

In Stranger Things Season 5, Eleven again steps forward to fight Vecna as his threat grows even stronger. She gives it her all to prepare herself to fight against the villain and save Hawkins from collapsing. However, the final chapter also sees Eleven maturing and realizing that her strength is not only the powers she has, but it’s also the people who are backing her up.

In 2019, the actress launched her own skincare and makeup brand named Florence by Mills in collaboration with the Beach House Group. She became a majority shareholder of the parent company a year later. Millie Bobby Brown got married to Jake Bongiovi in May 2024 and held a private ceremony. Later, the couple hosted a second yet larger wedding celebration in Italy in October 2024.

Now, if we talk about her next projects, Enola Holmes 3 is in post-production and will be released sometime in 2026. Besides that, she has been a part of two other projects, one of which is a movie and the other is a television series. The former is titled Just Picture It, and the latter is called Prism. Millie Bobby Brown serves as an actor and also as a producer in these.

2. Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler

Finn Wolfhard portrays Mike Wheeler, the leader of the ‘Party’ in Stranger Things. He gave shelter to Eleven when the poor girl escaped the lab and was looking for a place to hide. After Will’s disappearance, Mike took the leadership and decided to solve the mystery, no matter how challenging the road was. After realizing that El knows something about his friend’s disappearance, he takes the girl into his group. Later, Mike also starts dating Eleven, giving us one of the cutest love stories to witness.

In Season 5 so far, Mike Wheeler is also seen evolving. He is not the impulsive kid he once was. In fact, in the final chapter, he is seen caught between fear and determination. Like always, we again get to see him having the back of his friends even more than before. On top of everything, his bond with Eleven is also put to the test.

Finn Wolfhard debuted in the acting world in 2012 by appearing in a music video. The post-apocalyptic drama series The 100 saw the young actor’s TV debut in 2014. Since then, he has appeared in several television shows and films like It 1 and 2, Stranger Things, Ghostbusters: Afterlife, Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and more. He also directed a short movie titled Night Shifts in 2020 and later joined the rock band called The Aubreys as a lead singer and guitarist.

2025 has been one of the hectic years for the young actor as he filmed the final season of Stranger Things, of course, and also released a solo debut album, Happy Birthday. He has also been cast as a voice actor in the upcoming animated project, NEW-GEN, and bagged a role in the stunt-focused comedy film, Crash Land.

3. Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair

Lucas is a member of the Hawkins gang and the one who always listens to his instincts, especially when it comes to his friends: Will, Mike, and Dustin. He was the one who was skeptical when Mike took in Eleven in Season 1. After meeting Max, something changed in him, and he began to evolve. To be honest, he was never expressive, but after crossing paths with Maxine, he learned to handle things without rushing.

Max went into a Coma in the fourth installment, and she is still in that situation in Season 5 so far. Lucas is afraid to lose her, but that doesn’t make him weak; in fact, he becomes the one to hold the group together and make them focus on what’s important. To be precise, the boy emerges as the emotional pillar in Season 5.

Caleb McLaughlin began his television journey with minor roles in projects such as Noah Dreams of Origami Fortunes and Unforgettable. Since his appearance in Stranger Things, significant projects have come his way. These include High Flying Bird, Final Space, and more. Apart from acting, he has also lent his voice to several animated characters, including Simba in The Lion King (the Broadway musical). Caleb also has a voice acting role in an animated drama called Goat, which will be released in 2026. Beyond acting, the actor is also making a name for himself in the world of fashion and voice acting/ audio dramas.

4. Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson

Unlike the other members of the Hellfire Club, Dustin was never charismatic, but he was the most intellectual kid in the group. No matter how dark it got, Dustin never failed to save the day with his resources. He was the one who always goofed around and made everyone laugh with his silly jokes. Dustin was a precious gem from the start who would not miss any chance to make his friends feel loved. For instance, after getting along with Steve, he gave us one of the best Bromances in television history.

Now, in the final season so far, he continues to fight the evil and the bullies. He also doesn’t leave a chance to honor Eddie by wearing the Heelfire club t-shirt and cheering for him. Even though he hasn’t moved on from losing his friend in the previous season, he seems determined to end the story for Vecna more than ever.

Gaten Matarazzo started as a theatre artist, and Stranger Things brought a turning point in his life. Recently, Gaten appeared as a voice actor in LEGO Star Wars: Rebuilding the Galaxy. Besides acting, the American actor serves as a fundraiser for an organization that helps people suffering from the genetic condition of Cleidocranial Dysplasia (CCD), as he himself suffers from it.

5. Noah Schnapp as Will Byers

It all starts with Will Byers’ disappearance after his confrontation with an otherworldly creature one night. After putting in all their efforts, his mother and friends find Will with the help of Jim Hopper. Even though he returns from the alternate reality, it leaves an impact on his psyche, and he starts getting disturbing visions. In Season 5, Will gets chills whenever the Upside Down creatures are around. Well, this time he doesn’t appear as a victim; in fact, the final season gives him the chance to shine by blessing him with supernatural powers that would eventually help him fight Vecna.

Noah Schnapp is a 20-year-old American actor who grabbed a lot of attention after appearing as Will Byers in Stranger Things. His acting prep began in school, where his parents encouraged him to participate in the plays. Later, he began his professional acting career in 2015 with the animated film The Peanuts Movie.

Since then, he has appeared in several live-action projects and lent his voice to animated characters in video games and films. Besides focusing on his acting career, Noah is pursuing entrepreneurship and innovation at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he will graduate in the coming year.

6. Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler

Natalie Dyer portrays Nancy Wheeler in Stranger Things. She is the elder sister of Mike Wheeler, who initially dated Steve Harrington. However, after realizing a couple of things about their relationship, she ends their relationship. Later, after her friend Barb goes missing, she joins forces with Jonathan and helps him solve the mystery behind the disappearances in Hawkins. She also starts dating Jonathan. Stranger Things Season 5, so far, sees her more confident than ever; she becomes a pro-player in handling weapons. She also gives us some of the intense action sequences to witness in the series so far.

Natalia Dyer gained appreciation with her film debut in Hannah Montana: The Movie as Clarissa Granger. Like many characters on this list, the role in Stranger Things became her breakthrough performance. She not only dated Jonathan Byers in the fictional project but has also been dating Charlie Heaton, the actor playing him, since 2016 in real life. Dyer is recently exploring new hobbies, such as hot yoga and learning French.

7. Joe Keery as Steve Harrington

Steve Harrington, portrayed by Joe Keery, enters the game as a boy who is extremely popular among girls. He initially gave us an antagonistic vibe, but with the story moving forward, we get to see him transform. He becomes someone who stands by his friends no matter what the situation is. Reportedly, the creators wanted Steve to be a bad guy in the series who would die in Season 1. However, Keery made them change their minds with his incredible portrayal of the character.

Steve Harrington, in Season 5, is a lot different than how we used to know. He is much calmer now, still cracking jokes, but a sadness beneath is sensed. He is there for Dustin and the others, truly holding them together in the final battle against Vecna. Also, recently, the actor revealed that Steve Harrington will get a bittersweet conclusion. So, let’s hold our breath as the remaining parts of Stranger Things Season 5 are nearing their official release dates with each passing day.

Like Finn Wolfhard, Joe Keery is a musician as well as an actor. Steve’s portrayal in Stranger Things helped him gather a massive fan base. He has bagged roles in several projects after Stranger Things, including Free Guy, Cold Storage, and Fargo’s fifth season. Following his departure from the Rock Band called Post Animal, Keery released his solo studio albums Twenty Twenty and Decide, which were released in 2019 and 2022, respectively. He has also bagged a role in Cold Storage, a science fiction thriller film that will be released in 2026.

8. Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield

Max Mayfield joins the cast of Stranger Things in Season 2. She ends up becoming a close friend of Mike Wheeler and the gang. Later, she also establishes a romantic relationship with Lucas; it has been an on-and-off thing, though. However, after being attacked by Vecna in Season 4, she goes into a coma. Her body is still there in a hospital in Stranger Things Season 5, but her consciousness is missing. She also appears in her true form in front of Holly Wheeler when the little girl is taken to the Upside Down by Vecna. Now, it remains to be seen whether she can fight enough from within to return to her friends or if she will die.

Sadie Sink began her acting career when she was seven years old. Like Gaten Matarazzo, she also began it all with theatrical performances. After working on Stranger Things, many projects came her way, including the Fear Street Trilogy. Most recently, Sadie Sink has appeared on screen in a movie titled O’Dessa, which is streaming on Hulu. She will debut in the MCU in Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and then appear in Avengers: Secret Wars. While it’s not official which character she is playing in the MCU, the recent Spider-Man Brand New Day trailer leak suggests something.

9. Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers

Jonathan Byers is Will’s elder brother, who starts blaming himself for not being at home the day his little brother disappeared mysteriously. At the start, Jonathan is usually bullied by Steve, and one day, when the latter breaks the former’s camera, Nancy helps him. After that, she befriends Jonathan, and later the duo starts dating. Jonathan used to be a man of few words at first, as the world made him feel like a nobody. However, it seems that after getting involved with Nancy, he has undergone a transformation.

Before beginning acting, Charlie Heaton was a musician who also did commercials to earn a living. In 2017, the U.S. government banned him from entering the country as the authorities found drugs in his luggage. Besides Stranger Things, his performance can be seen in As You Are, New Mutants, and more. Currently, he is in a relationship with Natalie Dyer.

10. Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley

Robin Buckley became a crucial character in Stranger Things after appearing in Season 3. She becomes Steve’s best friend after working with him at the ice cream parlor. She’s a quirky individual who can do everything for the people she cares about. Her chemistry with Steve is phenomenal in the series, and Season 5 sees them being each other’s backbone. She is also someone who continuously helps the group in the fight.

Maya Hawke portrays the character in Stranger Things. The talented daughter of Ethan Hawke and  Uma Thurman began her career in the BBC’s Little Women. However, she gained recognition after her role in Stranger Things. Since then, Maya has only climbed up the ladder and worked on projects like Once Upon A Time In Hollywood, Fear Street Part One: 1994, and Wildcat.

She was also a part of Inside Out 2, where she voiced Anxiety. Currently, she is busy filming The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping. Apart from being an actor, Maya is also a singer and a songwriter. Her latest album, Chaos Angel, with a Metacritic rating of 81, was well received by audiences and critics alike. 

11. David Harbour as Hopper

Hopper was the one who took care of Eleven and became her guardian in the early seasons. It was his ‘Dad Hopper’ role that made fans adore him. Hopper entered the game as a traumatized, messy character, but when he got involved with Eleven and the other kids, he found a motive. He became the backbone of the Hawkins gang, and that’s why when he was captured by the Russians, every heart cried. However, his re-entry in Stranger Things Season 4 was a dream come true for the fandom. Now, in Season 5, Hopper is the one to walk toe-to-toe with Eleven in the Upside Down. In fact, he helped Eleven to unlock the metal door and discover Kali/008.

David Harbour is a popular name in the industry, who has appeared in several big projects, including Creature Commandos, Marvel Zombies, The Rookie, and, of course, Stranger Things. His upcoming projects are a sequel to the 2022 film, Violent Night, and the limited series, DTF St. Louis.

12. Winona Ryder as Joyce

When everyone else refused to believe in the supernatural after Will’s disappearance, Joyce was the first to notice strange signals, such as flickering lights. She was the one who supported the Hawkins gang from the start, and in the final chapter, she has evolved further. She has become a fearless woman who doesn’t hesitate to take a stand, even against an unmatchable enemy.

Winona Ryder’s recent appearances were in Stranger Things Season 5 and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

13. Jamie Campbell Bower as Vecna

Now, finally, we talk about Jamie Campbell Bower’s Vecna. He is the ultimate villain of Stranger Things, who traumatized the entire fandom with his eerie first appearance in Season 4. He did several bad things in the past and is in no mood to stop until he destroys Hawkins and its residents in the final chapter. In the first volume, we finally get to see what he did to Will after the boy was brought to the Upside Down by the demogorgon. Vecna also reappears in the current timeline and lets us know that he wants to use Will to fulfil his desires.

Jamie Campbell Bower is a musician who released his solo albums starting in 2020. He bagged the role of Vecna in Stranger Things and impressed the fandom worldwide. In 2024, he appeared in Witchboard and Marmalade. In 2026, he will be seen in a horror-comedy film titled Cold Storage.