Its always a big deal for a show to (intentionally) reach its final season, and the same is true forStranger Things. The popular sci-fi horror series has been going on for a while, and Netflix has made sure to make fans know the end is coming. Sure enough, we arenearing the finish line, as Netflix announced the fifth season has wrapped production with photos of the cast and crew on set. Additionally, co-creator Ross Duffer put out his own statement on the shows almost eight-year lifetime. As he noted, the coreStranger Thingscast were kids when they first joined, and have since become substantially older over the course of the series. [Stranger Things] was a defining part of their childhood, said Duffer. Theyve grown up before our eyes, becoming more than actorstheyve become family. Of the crew, he said they also hold a special place in our hearts. [Much of] our crew has been with us from the very beginning. Their dedication and passion have been the backbone of this journey. Everyone involved was determined to bring this story to a satisfying conclusion. They poured their hearts and souls into it, and we couldnt be more proud of what theyve accomplished. The path toStranger Thingslast season has been somewhat eventful: last year, production halted during the writers strike as Ross and Matt Duffer stopped in solidarity with their fellow writers. Things were further impacted by the actors strike weeks later, and once those were resolved, production spun up at the top of 2024. Between then and now, Netflix has posted set photos and provided tiiiiiiny glimpses of whats coming. Now that production is over, its just a matter of waiting for Netflix to reveal the seasons release dateor dates, possibly. Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, whats next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.