Before the final season of Stranger Things wraps up the beloved Netflix series, fans in America will have the chance to experience the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow. Set to make its Broadway debut in April 2025, this production promises to offer a new dimension to the Stranger Things universe. A fresh trailer has been released to build anticipation for the play’s American premiere.
The play originally opened in London’s West End in late 2023 and is directed by Stephen Daldry. It serves as a prequel to the Stranger Things series, featuring a storyline crafted by the show’s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, alongside Jack Thorne, known for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, and Kate Trefry, who completed the play’s script.
The First Shadow explores the origin of Henry Creel, who becomes the series’ central antagonist, Vecna. Set in the 1950s, it also delves into the lives of other familiar characters like James Hopper, Joyce Maldonado, and Bob Newby from Season 2. The Duffer brothers have suggested that the play could offer insights into the upcoming fifth season of the series.
It remains uncertain whether the original cast of The First Shadow will appear in the Broadway production. The play is scheduled to run at the Marquis Theatre in New York City, with previews beginning on March 28, 2025, and the official opening set for April 22, 2025. The release date for Stranger Things Season 5 is yet to be announced, but it will also premiere in 2025.
