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The third season of Stranger Things was officially announced on December 1, 2017. It is currently in production. An official release date for the season has yet to be revealed, though several cast members have stated it will most likely have a 2019 release.

The season will have a time jump like the previous season, taking place in the summer of 1985, and will be focusing on "forces of evil that are new."

Cast and characters

 * Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers
 * David Harbour as Jim Hopper
 * Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler
 * Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven
 * Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson
 * Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair
 * Noah Schnapp as Will Byers
 * Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield
 * Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler
 * Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers
 * Joe Keery as Steve Harrington
 * Dacre Montgomery as Billy Hargrove
 * Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair
 * Maya Hawke as Robin
 * Cary Elwes as Mayor Kline
 * Jake Busey as Bruce
 * Francesca Reale as Heather

Development
The Duffers stated they wanted to start the third season with a clean slate, intentionally ending the previous season with few cliffhangers, so that they can focus on creating a better story with more freedom. They also hinted that several ideas that didn't make it in the second season may be used. By mid-November, the season was in the early stages of development. In January, producer Shawn Levy revealed that all of the characters' story lines have already been planned out, and that the season will have eight or nine episodes, depending on the "amount of story that excites them." Levy also confirmed that Will Byers will not be the main victim this season, and that the friendship between Dustin Henderson and Steve Harrington will continue. In February, it was announced the season will have eight episodes.

In March, Shawn Levy also revealed that Season 3 would take place during the summer of 1985, a year after the former season and added that the relationship between Mike and Eleven as well as Max and Lucas will continue. Moreover, he promised that Steve Harrington will have a much larger role.

Casting
On March 2, Variety announced that Priah Ferguson, who portrays Erica Sinclair, had been upped to a recurring role. Her storyline for the season was described as "No longer content with sitting on the sidelines, Erica finds herself on a wild mission to save Hawkins from a dangerous new threat." They also revealed that Maya Hawke will be joining the cast as Robin, an "'alternative girl' bored with her mundane day job. She seeks excitement in her life and gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers a dark secret in Hawkins, Ind."

In April, it was announced that Cary Elwes, best known for his performance as Westley from The Princess Bride, had been cast as Mayor Kline, who is described as “handsome, slick, and sleazy. He is your classic ’80s politician — more concerned with his own image than with the people of the small town he governs.” Additionally, Jake Busey was revealed to have been cast as Bruce, a journalist for The Hawkins Post “with questionable morals and a sick sense of humor.”

In May, it was revealed that actress Francesca Reale had been cast as Heather, a lifeguard at the Hawkins community pool who will "become the center piece of a dark mystery."

Production
According to actor David Harbour, production is scheduled to begin in April 2018. TVLine additionally reported that production is slated to begin in mid-April. Production officially began on April 20, and a production teaser was released on April 27, showing the cast members at the table read.

Filming
Filming for the season officially began April 23.