Release Date and Platform
Stranger Things season 3 premiered on July 4, 2019, on Netflix. The season consists of eight episodes and was released globally at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time on that date. Netflix confirmed the premiere through its official blog and social channels, aligning the release with the Independence Day holiday in the United States Netflix Tudum.
The season was made available in all regions where Netflix operates, with dubbing and subtitles added for dozens of languages. Netflix did not stagger the release by country, and the full season dropped at once rather than weekly. This release model follows the pattern set by previous Stranger Things seasons on the platform Netflix Tudum.
Production and Creative Team
The Duffer Brothers served as creators, showrunners, and writers for Stranger Things season 3. Shawn Levy directed multiple episodes, and the season was produced by 21 Laps Entertainment in association with Monkey Massacre Productions. Netflix distributed the season worldwide as an original series under its streaming platform Forbes.
The production budget for Stranger Things season 3 was reported to be around $30 million per episode, making it one of the most expensive Netflix original series at the time. Filming took place primarily in Atlanta, Georgia, and surrounding areas in Georgia, with additional location shooting in and around Hawkins, Indiana, which was recreated for the show Forbes.
Cast and Story Overview
The main cast of Stranger Things season 3 includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, and Sadie Sink. New additions to the cast include Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley and Priah Ferguson as Erica Sinclair, with Cary Elwes portraying Mayor Larry Kline Deadline.
The story of Stranger Things season 3 is set in the summer of 1985, with the characters facing a new threat linked to the Upside Down. The plot centers on the Mind Flayer's return and a secret Russian operation beneath the newly built Starcourt Mall. The season concludes with a cliffhanger that sets up the events of later seasons The Hollywood Reporter.
