New photos have emerged showing filming on the set of Stranger Things season 5, and while the snaps will likely whet appetites for the Netflix show’s upcoming return, they also partially debunk a popular villain theory. Though it’s yet to be confirmed, Stranger Things season 5 is expected to be released in 2025, and, as such, filming is currently well underway. In recent weeks, various photos from the set of the new season have found their way online, including a bunch from a familiar location that could hint at where the fifth and final season is headed.

The last time viewers took a trip to Hawkins, Indiana, was back in 2022 when season 4 of the hit sci-fi horror show was released in two parts over the summer of that year.

Though some aspects of the story were tied up, Stranger Things season 4’s ending left certain things unexplained and provided a lot of set-ups for the next installment. There are lots of great Stranger Things season 5 theories that could explain what the show has in store. However, thanks to new set photos, at least one popular theory has at least been partly disproved.