The Duffer Brothers have spoken: Joseph Quinn will not appear in the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. Confirming that his character, fan favourite Eddie Munson, is officially dead, co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer shut down theories that he may resurface in a new interview with Empire.
“I love that Joe Quinn is toying with people! But no, he’s dead,” Matt Duffer said. “Joe is so busy anyway that everyone should know he’s not coming back. He’s shot like five movies since! When the hell has he got time to come and shoot Stranger Things? No, sadly, RIP. He’s fully under that ground.”
As fans will remember, Eddie (Quinn) willingly sacrificed himself in the season four finale, after playing his guitar to lure the Demobats away from his friends. In one of the show’s most heartbreaking moments, Eddie, who had been overwhelmed by the Demobats, died in the Upside Down with Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) by his side.
A scene which left fans with endless theories, some suggested that this might not be it for Eddie, considering that just about anything can happen in Stranger Things. Taking to Reddit, one noted that Eddie could become a vampire, just like Kas in Dungeons & Dragons.
”Kas is bitten and killed by bats (just like Eddie), but following his death, he’s reincarnated at the hands of Vecna, and serves as his right hand in exchange for the new life,” the user wrote. “Though initially subjugated to Vecna’s will, Kas eventually finds the strength to turn against his villainous master, and, wielding a weapon called the sword of Kas, is able to vanquish Vecna once and for all.”
Meanwhile, a second mused that while Eddie wouldn’t return from the dead, Quinn could reappear in flashback scenes. “Eddie’s death is certainly something that Vecna could use against Dustin, as well as Mike and Lucas, who were close friends too,” the user explained.
“Even Steve, whom he was clearly starting to bond with. So there are very good in-universe reasons to bring him in for flashbacks, and/or have Vecna impersonating him. Don’t think he’s going to literally come back from the dead though, but we’ll see.”
Further fuelling conspiracies, fans became convinced that Quinn would reprise his role after remaining coy in a Q&A with Facts Comic-Con in April. Asked whether he would feature in season five, the actor replied: “I do know, but I’m not telling you. It’s a good question.”
Following his breakout performance in Stranger Things, Quinn has become one of Hollywood’s biggest and brightest stars, with roles in big-budget blockbusters like A Quiet Place: Day One (2024), Gladiator II (2024) and The Fantastic Four: First Steps (2025).
Busier than ever, he will next appear as Johnny Storm in Marvel’s highly anticipated superhero film, Avengers: Doomsday, before portraying George Harrison in The Beatles — A Four-Film Cinematic Event. The former is expected to premiere in 2026, while the latter has lined up a 2028 release.
Source: digitalspy.com