"My finale is different": Caleb McLaughlin hints at absence from Stranger Things season 5 finale

Caleb McLaughlin has drawn attention to Lucas Sinclair's storyline in Stranger Things season 5 after hinting that his final moment in the series may not appear in the last episode.

"My finale is different," he remarked, leading to new discussions about how the character’s arc concludes in the final season.

McLaughlin has not clarified whether Lucas is part of the series finale. Instead, his comment suggests that his final scene happens earlier in the story. His statement emerged as cast members revealed that Netflix is keeping the last episode from everyone involved in production.

The new season will release in three parts, with the final installment premiering both in theaters and on Netflix on New Year’s Day.

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What role does Caleb McLaughlin's Lucas play in the final season of Stranger Things?

Caleb Mclaughlin at the Stranger Things 5 UK Special Screening (Image via Getty)

Lucas returns as a member of the main Hawkins group in Stranger Things season 5. The story takes place in the fall of 1987, which is more than a year after season 4.

Specifically, the military is still in charge of Hawkins, and the group is still looking for Vecna. Lucas joins the others as they walk through a village that is split up by rifts and watched over by federal troops.

His tale is also linked to Max, who is still a key player in the fight against the Upside Down. McLaughlin's early wrap could mean that Lucas finishes his main story before the final fight.

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How is Stranger Things season 5 released?

Netflix will release Stranger Things season 5 in three stages. Volume I arrives on November 26, 2025. Volume II follows on December 25. The third and final episode premieres on December 31.

The main cast includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Brett Gelman, Priah Ferguson, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Linda Hamilton. It also features Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin as part of the core Hawkins group.

The staggered release structure allows the story to progress in stages as it moves toward the final confrontation with Vecna.

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What do other cast members say about the finale?

Several cast members have shared that they will not see the finale of Stranger Things season 5 in advance. Noah Schnapp previously shared that the final episode will be kept from them until release day. Some cast members described the later episodes as emotional, large in scale, and high in stakes.

Millie Bobby Brown, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, and Charlie Heaton all noted that the season opens at full intensity and maintains that pace. Their comments align with the Duffers’ plan to build the entire structure of the season toward the last 30 minutes.

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Which characters are most affected by the final battle With Vecna?

The cast of Stranger Things (Image via Getty)

Season 5 wraps up the long-running fight with Vecna and puts a lot of characters in important roles. Eleven continues to lead the fight, and Will's link to the Upside Down remains a very important point.

Hopper and Joyce have to follow the town's new restrictions, and Max's uncertain recovery raises the emotional stakes. Dustin, Mike, Nancy, Steve, Robin, Jonathan, and Erica are some of the other characters whose stories may come to an end as the tale proceeds into the closing part of the whole series.

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Caleb McLaughlin’s statement about having a “different finale” increases interest in Lucas’ final moments in Stranger Things season 5.

The final season will premiere on November 26, 2025, exclusively on Netflix.

Edited by Bea Melisse Ibañez