‘Stranger Things’ Cast Addresses Wild Secret Episode Fan Theory
The creators and cast of Stranger Things recently gathered in Los Angeles for an Emmys For Your Consideration event, where they discussed the show’s final season and an unusual fan theory that emerged following its conclusion.
According to coverage from The Hollywood Reporter, the event took place at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, featuring key members of the team who reflected on the series finale and audience reactions.
The reunion included creators the Duffer Brothers, executive producer Shawn Levy, and actors Noah Schnapp, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, and Jamie Campbell Bower. They reminisced about the final season, which was released in parts and concluded on New Year’s Eve. After the finale aired, a peculiar theory began circulating online.
Some fans speculated that the final episode was not genuine and was instead an illusion conjured by Vecna, the villain portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower. This theory, dubbed “Conformity Gate,” even suggested that a secret ninth episode would eventually be released as the true conclusion of the series.
Jamie Campbell Bower had a strong reaction when asked about this theory. He remarked, “That was crazy, that was fucking crazy,” while explaining how rapidly the idea gained traction. He noted that part of the confusion stemmed from a social media video he shared while promoting an appearance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
Fans began scrutinizing it closely, believing he was dropping hidden hints. Bower clarified that this was not intentional, stating, “The fans held onto that, they were like, ‘He’s saying something about time and he’s stopping on nine!’ And I was like, ‘No, no, no, we’ve just come up with this idea in the back of a car to the airport!’”
Noah Schnapp also addressed the situation, mentioning that fans were frequently messaging him about the rumored secret episode. He assured them that nothing of the sort was ever filmed, saying, “I promise you we did not film another episode. I don’t know where people got that from, I’ve never seen so many people convinced of something so wrong.” His comments highlighted the widespread nature of the theory, even among those close to the show.
Executive producer Shawn Levy also shared his perspective on the matter. He explained that the online response illustrated how powerful fan theories can become once they start to circulate.
He stated, “The sort of wishful thinking, legendary, fabled episode nine — that was baffling and thank God by that point I had learned not to even try engaging with people online, and that the internet and social media is this sort of self-fueling machine of theory and story. I felt bad for the world, because they really believed; as much as I believe that Eleven is still alive somewhere by those waterfalls, the world seemed to really believe for a while in that extra episode. I knew they were going to get their hearts broken by its absence, but there was nothing I could do to spare them that pain.”
The final season concluded with an emotional and ambiguous ending. Millie Bobby Brown’s character Eleven appears to make a significant sacrifice inside the Upside Down, but a final moment leaves her fate uncertain. Some cast members, including Schnapp and Bower, believe Eleven survived, while Levy suggested the ending was crafted to leave certain elements open to interpretation.
The reunion event also featured discussions with the show’s behind-the-scenes team, including makeup effects, sound, stunt work, and visual effects departments, all of which contributed to the final season’s distinctive look and feel.
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