Stranger Things final season: Eddie Munson not returning

Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer confirmed this week that Joseph Quinn will not return as Eddie Munson in the show’s fifth and final season, saying the character remains dead and the actor is tied up with other film projects. Volume 1 of the threepart concluding season arrives on Netflix on Nov. 26, with subsequent releases scheduled for Dec. 25 and Dec. 31.

Eddie Munson, played by Quinn, died in the Season 4 finale after sacrificing himself to distract a flock of Demobats so the other characters could attack Vecna’s stronghold at Creel House. That death and a brief ghost appearance by another previously killed character in Season 4 had left room for fan speculation about possible returns. Matt Duffer addressed those hopes directly, saying, "He's fully under that ground," and noting that Quinn has been busy with multiple film commitments since Season 4.

Quinn’s post–Stranger Things résumé includes roles in A Quiet Place: Day One, Gladiator II, Warfare and a rebooted Fantastic Four installment, with additional projects reported in development. The actor’s increased film schedule was cited by the creators as a practical reason he will not be available for Season 5,...