‘Stranger Things’ Cast: Then and Now

It’s been almost ten years since Stranger Things first premiered on Netflix in 2016, and the cute kids we originally met are now all grown up. It makes you realize how much time has passed, doesn’t it?

Created by the Duffer Brothers, the hit series Stranger Things first appeared on streaming services on July 15, 2016. Drawing inspiration from filmmakers like Steven Spielberg, Stephen King, and David Lynch, the show quickly became a massive cultural phenomenon. Set in the 1980s and filled with nostalgia, it didn’t take long for Stranger Things to captivate audiences and become a defining part of the television landscape.

Since it first came out, Stranger Things has become much more than just a TV show. It’s now a full-fledged franchise with a Broadway play, several novels, comic books, and an upcoming animated series called Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85. Plus, there’s a huge amount of related merchandise, partnerships with other brands, and special pop-up experiences all inspired by the show.

The show’s younger actors have all achieved significant success since appearing on the series. They’ve gone on to star in multiple films, build thriving music careers, and appear in well-regarded independent movies, among other accomplishments.

With the final season of Stranger Things arriving after a long wait, and the story we’ve followed for ten years nearing its end, it’s got us thinking about how the show started – and wondering what the original young stars are doing now, almost a decade later.

Stranger Things Cast: Then and Now

Millie Bobby Brown: Then (2016)

Millie Bobby Brown was just 12 years old when Stranger Things first came out in 2016. Before becoming famous for her role as Eleven, the British actress started her career with appearances on shows like Once Upon a Time in Wonderland, NCIS, Modern Family, and Grey’s Anatomy. In 2017, her performance earned her an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series.

Millie Bobby Brown: Now (2025)

Millie Bobby Brown, currently 21 years old (as of November 2025), is married to Jake Bongiovi, the son of Jon Bon Jovi, and they have an adopted daughter. Since becoming known for her role in Stranger Things, she’s appeared in films like Godzilla: King of the Monsters, Enola Holmes, Damsel, and The Electric State. A third Enola Holmes movie is scheduled for release in 2016, and Brown also founded her own beauty company, Florence by Mills.

Finn Wolfhard: Then (2016)

Finn Wolfhard was only 13 when he started playing Mike Wheeler. Before landing the role in Stranger Things in 2016, he had already begun building his acting career with a music video appearance in 2012 and small roles in the TV shows The 100 and Supernatural.

Finn Wolfhard: Now (2025)

Finn Wolfhard really exploded onto the scene after Stranger Things, didn’t he? I remember being genuinely spooked by him in It and then again in It Chapter Two. Since then, he’s been consistently working, popping up in fun films like Ghostbusters: Afterlife and the more recent Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire, and even a quirky little movie called Saturday Night. But he’s not just an actor! He really surprised me by co-writing, co-directing, producing, and starring in the horror-comedy Hell of a Summer in 2023. And if that wasn’t enough, he’s a musician too! He’s part of a band called The Aubreys, and he’s also releasing music as a solo artist – his debut album, Happy Birthday, is coming out in June 2025, which I’m definitely looking forward to checking out.

Gaten Matarazzo: Then (2016)

Gaten Matarazzo is best known for playing Dustin Henderson in the popular Netflix show, Stranger Things. He was 14 years old when the series first came out. Before Stranger Things, Gaten had experience performing in Broadway musicals like Priscilla, Queen of the Desert and Les Misérables. He first appeared on television in 2015 with a guest role on The Blacklist.

Gaten Matarazzo: Now (2025)

Since first appearing on Netflix, 23-year-old Gaten Matarazzo has built a diverse career. He’s done voice work for animated movies and shows, made brief appearances in music videos by artists like Katy Perry and Green Day, and acted in films, including the 2022 romantic comedy Honor Society. He’s also returned to the stage, performing in Broadway productions of Dear Evan Hansen and Sweeney Todd.

Caleb McLaughlin: Then (2016)

Caleb McLaughlin is best known for his role as Lucas Sinclair in Stranger Things. He was 14 years old when the show first came out in 2016. Before that, he appeared in guest roles on television shows like Law & Order: SVU, Shades of Blue, and Unforgettable. He started his acting career with a starring role as young Simba in the Broadway production of The Lion King.

Caleb McLaughlin: Now (2025)

Caleb McLaughlin, who is now 24, gained recognition for playing Lucas and received a SAG Award for his performance in 2017. He made his first appearance in a major film in 2020, starring alongside Idris Elba in Concrete Cowboy. Since then, he’s been in movies like The Book of Clarence and The Deliverance, done voice work for animated shows, and even released his own music, including the 2022 single “Soul Travel.”

Noah Schnapp: Then (2016)

Noah Schnapp was just 11 years old when the first season of Stranger Things came out. Before becoming famous as Will Byers on the Netflix show, he started his acting career by voicing Charlie Brown in the 2015 film The Peanuts Movie. He also appeared in Steven Spielberg’s Bridge of Spies that same year, marking his first on-screen role.

Noah Schnapp: Now (2025)

Since first appearing on Stranger Things, 21-year-old Noah Schnapp has also acted in independent films like Abe and Waiting for Anya. He had a role in the 2020 Adam Sandler comedy Hubie Halloween, and has made brief appearances in music videos by Panic! at the Disco and Drake.

Natalia Dyer: Then (2016)

I was really surprised to learn that Natalia Dyer, who I now know as Nancy Wheeler from Stranger Things, actually started acting way back in 2009! She had a small role in Hannah Montana: The Movie when she was quite young. Before landing the part of Nancy, she was building up her experience with smaller roles and some cool indie films like Don’t Let Me Go, After Darkness, and I Believe in Unicorns. It’s neat to see how much experience she had even before the show made her so well-known.

Natalia Dyer: Now (2025)

Natalie Dyer gained recognition for her leading role in the 2019 film Yes, God, Yes. She’s also appeared in several other recent projects, including Velvet Buzzsaw, Things Heard & Seen, and All Fun and Games. In 2018, she was featured in the music video for James Bay’s song, “Wild Love.”

Joe Keery: Then (2016)

I still remember when Steve Harrington first appeared on Stranger Things – it’s amazing to think Joe Keery was only 24 at the time! Before that role really launched him, he was actually doing commercials – I think I even remember seeing him in a KFC ad! He also had some smaller parts on shows like Empire and Chicago Fire, and he was in this cool indie film called Henry Gamble’s Birthday Party before Stranger Things happened. It’s wild to see how far he’s come!

Joe Keery: Now (2025)

Joe Keery, now 33, has been in several films since becoming known for Stranger Things, including Spree, Molly’s Game, and Free Guy. He also played a major role in Season 5 of the TV show Fargo. Beyond acting, Keery makes music as Djo, and his 2022 song “End of the Beginning” recently became very popular on TikTok in 2024.

Charlie Heaton: Then (2016)

Charlie Heaton, the British actor known for playing Jonathan Byers in Stranger Things, was 22 years old when the show first came out. Before becoming famous on Netflix, he was a musician and had small roles in TV shows like the crime drama DCI Banks and the medical drama Casualty.

Charlie Heaton: Now (2025)

After the first season of Stranger Things came out, Charlie Heaton appeared in the 2016 thriller Shut In with Naomi Watts, and the coming-of-age film As You Are. He filmed both of these projects before Stranger Things became popular. Since then, Heaton, now 31 years old, has been in films like The New Mutants, The Souvenir Part II, Marrowbone, and No Future.

Winona Ryder: Then (2016)

I always loved Winona Ryder! It’s wild to think she was already 44 when Stranger Things came out. I grew up watching her in the ’80s – she was the queen of quirky roles in movies like Beetlejuice and Heathers. Then in the ’90s, she was everywhere – Mermaids, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, Edward Scissorhands, Little Women, Girl, Interrupted, even The Crucible! I remember wondering what happened to her for a bit in the early 2000s, but it was great to see her pop up again in things like the Star Trek reboot and Black Swan. It’s awesome she’s having such a resurgence with Stranger Things – she’s a true icon.

Winona Ryder: Now (2025)

Since appearing in the hit show Stranger Things, Winona Ryder has been in several films, including the romantic comedy Destination Wedding with Keanu Reeves, Gone in the Night, Haunted Mansion, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice, a follow-up to Tim Burton’s classic 1988 film. In 2020, she starred in the highly praised HBO drama The Plot Against America. As of November 2025, Ryder is 54 years old.

David Harbour: Then (2016)

David Harbour, known for his role as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, was 41 years old when the show premiered on Netflix. Before finding fame with Stranger Things, he built a career with appearances in theater, including on Broadway, and on television. He first appeared on TV in 1999 with a small role on Law & Order, followed by parts in shows like Law & Order: SVU, Pan Am, Elementary, The Newsroom, and Manhattan. He also had roles in several films before Stranger Things, including Quantum of Solace, State of Play, Revolutionary Road, Brokeback Mountain, End of Watch, and The Green Hornet.

David Harbour: Now (2025)

David Harbour is celebrating 50 years in acting. He first became well-known for his role as Hopper, and since then has been in several movies like Suicide Squad, Hellboy, Violent Night, Gran Turismo, and We Have a Ghost. He’s also part of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Red Guardian, appearing in Black Widow and Thunderbolts.

Netflix Shows That Unfairly Ended After Just One Season

1. The Society (2019)

“The Society” follows a group of high school students who come home from a trip to find their entire town devoid of adults. Cut off from the outside world, they must band together to survive and figure out what happened, all while navigating shifting alliances. The show, a contemporary take on “Lord of the Flies,” quickly grabbed viewers with its mystery and suspense. Unfortunately, despite being renewed for a second season, the series was canceled due to the Covid-19 pandemic, leaving the cliffhanger ending of season one unresolved and fans wanting more.

2. Away (2020)

Hilary Swank stars in Away as an astronaut who embarks on a three-year mission to Mars, leaving her family behind. While the show focused more on personal relationships than space exploration, it received mixed reviews and was canceled after only a month. Despite this, Away had a lot of potential. With its strong lead actress, touching story about family and perseverance, and timely theme of space travel, a second season could have helped the show truly succeed.

3. The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance (2019)

Despite winning an Emmy and receiving rave reviews from both fans and critics, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance was cancelled in 2020. This prequel to Jim Henson’s classic 1982 film The Dark Crystal was visually stunning thanks to its incredible puppetry and featured a fantastic voice cast including Anya Taylor-Joy, Mark Hamill, and Taron Egerton. The show told an important and timely story about overcoming oppression, and it was a refreshing example of creative storytelling at a time when many shows rely on familiar tropes or look too similar with CGI. Unfortunately, because of its expensive production and lower-than-expected viewership, the story was left unfinished.

4. The Midnight Club (2022)

Given the success of shows like The Haunting of Hill House and Midnight Mass, many expected Netflix to give Mike Flanagan more support. However, Flanagan wasn’t allowed enough time to fully develop his supernatural horror series, The Midnight Club. The show centered on a group of teenagers with terminal illnesses who created a secret club where they shared scary stories and investigated the history of their hospice. While not Flanagan’s best work, The Midnight Club was enjoyable thanks to its young cast, emotional storytelling, creepy vibe, and nods to 1990s nostalgia, drawing comparisons to shows like Goosebumps, Stranger Things, and Are You Afraid of the Dark? Sadly, despite being planned for two seasons, Netflix canceled the show after only one season in December 2022.

5. I Am Not Okay With This (2020)

Inspired by the novel of the same name, I Am Not Okay With This centers on a teenage girl dealing with the typical struggles of high school – friends, family, and figuring out who she is – all while discovering she has psychic abilities. The show is engaging and realistic, with a standout performance by Sophia Lillis, known for her role in IT. Unfortunately, like The Society, the series was cancelled after its first season due to difficulties caused by the pandemic, leaving viewers with unanswered questions and a frustrating cliffhanger.

6. Glamorous (2023)

While not a groundbreaking artistic achievement, Glamorous was an enjoyable and lighthearted show that arrived at just the right time. It was actually more engaging than similar shows like Emily in Paris, which has lasted for five seasons. The series followed a young, queer makeup artist, Marco Mejia (played by Miss Benny), who gets a job revitalizing a famous fashion executive’s struggling beauty company. With Kim Cattrall as the sophisticated Madolyn Addison, the show was cheerfully campy and perfect for relaxing – similar to Ugly Betty. Sadly, despite its promise, Glamorous was canceled after only a few months, leaving viewers on a cliffhanger after a significant plot twist.

7. 1899 (2022)

From the minds behind Dark and 1899 comes a captivating sci-fi mystery set on the high seas. The series follows European immigrants traveling to New York by steamship who encounter a ghostly vessel and a series of unsettling, unexplained events. Like shows such as Lost and Manifest, it’s a complex puzzle that keeps you guessing. Unfortunately, despite a shocking season finale that left viewers wanting more, the show was canceled in 2023 due to low viewership and the high cost of production.

8. Scott Pilgrim Takes Off (2023)

Although Netflix originally intended Scott Pilgrim Takes Off as a single season, the critically acclaimed anime adaptation of the popular graphic novel series deserved a longer run. The show offers a fresh take on the Scott Pilgrim story, focusing on Ramona Flowers and the mystery surrounding Scott’s disappearance. Praised for its unique animation and featuring many of the original actors from the 2010 film, the show won’t be returning for additional seasons, despite the cast’s willingness to continue.

9. Marianne (2019)

The French horror series Marianne is deeply unsettling, drawing comparisons to the dark, atmospheric storytelling of Stephen King and the chilling supernatural elements found in Mike Flanagan’s work. The show centers around a writer haunted by a terrifying spirit, who is forced to confront her past when the entity draws her back to her hometown. With a central mystery rooted in demonic forces and genuinely frightening imagery, Marianne was a truly terrifying experience. Despite its critical acclaim and the creator’s hopes for more seasons, the show was unfortunately canceled in early 2020, much to the disappointment of dedicated horror fans like myself.

10. Everything Sucks! (2018)

Despite positive reviews and a dedicated fanbase, Netflix canceled Everything Sucks! after just two months because not enough people continued watching and it didn’t attract a wider audience. The show, a nostalgic coming-of-age story set in the ‘90s, follows a group of high school outsiders as they deal with family, friends, mental health, and figuring out who they are, all while surrounded by the music and technology of the era. It’s a charming, funny, and heartfelt series, and it’s disappointing that the first season ends with a painful cliffhanger.

2025-11-11 23:03