Stranger Things Season 4 Producer Explains Why New Episodes Have Taken So Long

Stranger Things Season 4 has been delayed several times, and Netflix recently confirmed that it will debut in 2022, but details about the new episodes have been scarce. However, producer Shawn Levy said that the new season will be worth the wait.

Credit: Netflix

During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter about the film Free Guy, Levy explained that the new season is "taking a lot of time" because of the ambituous scale and overall complexities, accentuated by the restrictions of the COVID-19 pandemic.

"That I can do! Thank you for not asking me for a release date because I've already been misquoted this week, slightly, on that topic," Levy said. "I'll just say that we are long-delayed, and the Duffers and I want to share season four with the world as badly as the world wants it. Part of what's taking time is long before Covid and the pandemic existed, season four was built to be by far the most ambitious, cinematic, sprawling and epic season that we've ever done. By not just a little — by a lot. So the complexity of season four, even before we had the obstacles, hurdles and challenges of a pandemic, is taking a lot of time because it is super worth the wait."

Related:Joe Keery Admits Sharing Stranger Things Season 4 Spoilers

Showrunners the Duffer Brothers and Netflix announced that the new season officially strated filming back in February 2020 in Vilnius, Lithuania then Atlanta, USA, but two weeks after filming, all Netflix productions, including Stranger Things were halted on March 16 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Filming resumed on September 28, 2020, and several actors were spotted in various set locations since then. During a June 2021 appearance at Jimmy Kimmel Live, star David Harbour was set to wrap in August, and it was reported that the show started filming in Albuquerque, New Mexico this month.

Netflix hasn't announced an exact release date for Stranger Things Season 4, but expect the show to debut sometime next year. For more details about the new season, check out our Stranger Things Season 4 hub here, and don't forget to follow our Netflix Rocks My World Facebook page for the latest updates and memes about the best movies and TV shows.