Fans of Stranger Things have been holding their breath for years, terrified that the beloved Steve Harrington, played by Joe Keery, would meet a tragic end in the show’s final battle. Recent leaks from the set of the highly anticipated Season 5, however, are giving everyone a reason to hope. A new photo appears to show Steve Harrington alive and well, sporting a distinctly 1990s style, a strong hint that the fan-favorite character survives the series finale.
The Leak That Started It All
The speculation stems from a photo of Joe Keery on set in an outfit that looks like it came straight from the 1990s. This small detail is a big deal for fans trying to piece together the timeline of the final season. The season is set to begin in the fall of 1987, but the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, have confirmed that the final episode will include an epilogue jumping forward in time.
This epilogue is set in 1989, and the very 1990s fashion Steve is seen wearing strongly suggests he is part of that future glimpse, having made it through the deadly fight against Vecna alive. For a character many had written off as doomed, this leak is the most compelling evidence yet that Steve Harrington will live to see the future.
Why Everyone Thought Steve Was Doomed
The fear for Steve’s life wasn’t baseless. For a long time, the internet has been convinced that a major character would fall in the final season, and Steve was at the top of everyone’s list.
The Season 5 teaser trailer showed Nancy Wheeler washing blood off her hands while sobbing, leading to widespread theories that someone very close to her had been killed. This immediately put a target on both Steve Harrington and Jonathan Byers. The popular theory suggested Steve would die in Nancy’s arms, perhaps even confessing his feelings for her in his final moments, making his death emotionally devastating.
Further fueling these fears, another leak from earlier in production showed Maya Hawke’s character, Robin, driving frantically following an ambulance to Hawkins Memorial Hospital. This led fans to panic that Steve, Robin’s best friend, was the one gravely injured. The general consensus on social media was that Steve was “cooked.” One user on X summed up the dread, writing, “Yeah heโs cooked,” a sentiment that was liked tens of thousands of times by equally worried fans.
A Shift in the Wind
The recent ’90s outfit leak has dramatically shifted the conversation. Fans on social media are now celebrating what they see as a confirmed victory. Comments on platforms like TikTok and X show the relief and excitement, with one user declaring, “steve survives oh we won.” Another noted, “90s Steve Harrington has just made me like Steve even more dear lord.”
The leak also offered a hopeful glimpse for other characters. The same set of photos showed an older Dustin Henderson, seemingly in the epilogue timeline as well. Notably, Dustin appeared to have tattoos referencing Eddie Munson and his guitar battle, a touching tribute to his fallen friend. This suggests that the core friendship between Steve and Dustin, a highlight of the series, gets a proper conclusion.
The Final Countdown Begins
While Steve’s fate looks more secure, the final season promises to be an emotional rollercoaster. The Duffer Brothers have stated that the final battle will be darker and more dangerous than anything the characters have faced before. The official synopsis for Season 5 confirms the group is united with the single goal of finding and killing Vecna, who has become even more powerful.
The season will also finally answer long-standing questions about the Upside Down. Ross Duffer told Variety, “Every season would be like, ‘Should we talk about it?’ And weโd go, ‘No, letโs wait.’ And then finally, weโre like, ‘Well, we have to now!’” The series finale, which will be around two hours long, is designed to provide a satisfying conclusion to the entire story that began with Will Byers’ disappearance.
Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1 premieres on November 26, 2025, with Part 2 arriving on Christmas Day. The two-hour series finale, “Chapter Eight: The Rightside Up,” will stream on New Year’s Eve, bringing the epic story to a close.
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