Stranger Things Season 5: Aging Cast, AI De-Aging, and Production Challenges

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While the final season of the hit series "Stranger Things" remains in limbo, some fans may feel that by the time we do see our favorite gang of friends again, they may be too old-looking to be believable in their roles. With the advantages of AI, and being able to de-age people with it, some wondered if maybe it would be used in this case with the cast. However, according to executive producer Shawn Levy, he believes they won't resort to extreme measures to de-age the characters.

Levy recently indicated that the production team would take steps to mitigate the noticeable aging of the young actors since the previous season's production. However, he clarified in an interview that this did not involve any computer-generated de-aging techniques.

When asked about using AI to make the young cast members appear younger, Levy said, "No. I kind of was surprised that one sentence I said [about] this topic traveled so widely. The bottom line is, we know what we're doing on this show. Our cast is brilliant. And these characters that the Duffers have created are so vivid. I'm not worried about everyone suiting back up and bringing them to life."

"Stranger Things 5" is among several productions that faced disruptions when the writers went on strike in May. This marks the second season of the series with significant delays, as the fourth season was previously halted for several months in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

A precise production timeline for the final season remains uncertain as it is still on hold while SAG-AFTRA negotiates a contract to conclude its 111-day strike. Even after that, there may be additional delays in restarting production but Levy expressed the team's eagerness to get back to work and reassured fans that they are as invested in delivering a satisfying conclusion to the series as the audience.

When the strike concludes, Levy will be juggling his responsibilities between "Stranger Things" and "Deadpool 3," which had reached the halfway point of production before the shutdown in July. He acknowledged the uncertainty that plagues the industry and stated his commitment to giving his all to these projects that hold personal significance.

Levy remarked, "I have seen so many production calendars torn up due to the ongoing unpredictability in our industry. I'm determined to give my full dedication to these projects that mean so much to me and not cut any corners."