It was a long, slow goodbye, but Stranger Things has finally come to an end, with its series finale dropping on New Year’s Eve. Whether you loved it, hated it, or like me, fell somewhere in between, the final season has definitely gotten people talking, especially about a certain character’s ultimate fate. Volumes two and three have dominated my social media algorithm since their release, and Netflix is about to keep the party going. If you’re confused about what happened to [redacted] or just craving more information about season five in general, you’re in luck. On Monday, they announced that a behind-the-scenes documentary about the last season is coming next week. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 drops on Monday, January 12.

Netflix has set the premiere date and released a trailer for its previously unannounced documentary that followed the making of the final season of “Stranger Things,” directed by Martina Radwan. “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5” will drop on Jan. 12, and according to its logline it will provide, “An inside look at the years of effort and craft that went into the final installment of the Duffer Brothers‘ generation-defining series.”

Radwan — who directed 2023’s documentary feature “Tomorrow, Tomorrow, Tomorrow” and who as a cinematographer has worked on such documentaries as “Girls State,” for which she won an Emmy — issued a statement along with the announcement. “I’m endlessly grateful to the Duffer Brothers for trusting me with a front-row seat to this incredible journey,” said Radwan. “Spending a full year on set with them was a true privilege — and an absolute thrill. Being able to get close and watching them bring this beloved show to life in real time, was pure joy. I only wish I could travel back and document Seasons 1 through 4. From the cast to their long-time collaborators, everyone welcomed me with remarkable generosity, openly sharing their personal and collective experiences from a decade of creative filmmaking, always pushing the boundaries. The Duffers inspire everyone to be better, including myself, their process and the show represents everything I love about filmmaking.”

The trailer for the documentary begins by showing snippets from the final table read of “Stranger Things,” as Ross Duffer says in voiceover, “Writing the last lines these characters would ever say, it was really hard to do.” Matt Duffer adds, “I remember more than anything just writing ‘End Series.’ Writing those two words having the biggest impact” as Noah Schnapp and Millie Bobby Brown cry on a couch during the table read, and Schnapp nuzzles into Cara Buono (who plays Karen Wheeler). The trailer then shows stills of the young cast from the show’s earliest days. David Bowie’s “Heroes,” which “Stranger Things” used more than once, including over the end credit in the series finale, plays as the trailer continues. The documentary also goes inside the writers’ room, as Duffers discuss the fate of Eleven (Brown). Later, Brown in voiceover says, “I’m not ready to let go.”

The trailer ends with Ross Duffer, on the final day of filming, saying, “And that is a wrap on ‘Stranger Things,’” as confetti falls from the ceiling. (Do read Variety‘s oral history of the last days of “Stranger Things.”)

In a statement accompanying the announcement, the Duffer brothers said: “Growing up in Durham, North Carolina, we dreamed of becoming filmmakers — but Hollywood felt impossibly far away. Everything changed when we watched the behind-the-scenes documentaries for ‘The Lord of the Rings’ — on-the-ground films that showed the real nuts and bolts of how a massive production actually gets made. We saw how stressed Peter Jackson was and thought: yep, that’s the dream. With the decline of physical media, that kind of behind-the-scenes storytelling has largely disappeared. We wanted to bring it back. ‘One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things Season 5’ — beautifully captured and directed by Martina Radwan — is our attempt to do just that. If you love ‘Stranger Things,’ or if you’re simply curious how a major Hollywood production comes to life, this one’s for you.”

[From Variety]

While I’m not shocked that we’re getting more Stranger Things content, I didn’t expect a “making of” documentary. The Duffer Brothers and several cast members have done so many interviews lately. It feels like we already know so much! We’ve learned why [redacted] was the one to kill Vecna, how Finn Wolfhard and Natalia Dyer advocated for Mike and Nancy to have scenes together, and that it was Joe Keery’s idea to play Bowie’s original version of Heroes over the credits. There’s also been fun BTS content released, like Millie Bobby Brown and some of the kids dancing to Sabrina Carpenter. What else can they tell us? Maybe we’ll find out what scene Noah Schnapp pushed for in the finale. I may sound like I’m pooh-poohing this doc, but I know I’m going to watch it.

I have mixed feelings about how Stranger Things ended, but feel oddly sad that it’s over. Actually, let me clarify. I feel oddly sad that the original story is over. This isn’t the end of the Stranger Things franchise. The Duffer Brothers have already teased two spinoffs. One is a live-action series that’s connected to what happened to young Henry Creel but creates a “whole new mythology,” and the other one is an animated series set in Hawkins in 1985, in between the events of seasons two and three. I think they’re oversaturating us a la Marvel and Star Wars. The final run-time for for each episode was much shorter than originally reported. I’d prefer it if they released a “Duffer Cut” of the final season instead. I’d love to know what was cut out.

Here’s the trailer for One Last Adventure:

Photos credit: Getty Images for Netflix, StillMoving.Net for Netflix