Stranger Things Cast Now vs. Then
When Stranger Things first premiered in 2016, its young cast felt like a group of talented kids who had suddenly stepped into the spotlight. They were still figuring out school schedules and learning their way around a film set. Nearly a decade later, those same faces have grown into artists with real careers, side projects, production credits, and personal lives that look nothing like the early days in Hawkins. As the series approaches its final stretch, it feels like the right moment to pause and see just how much their worlds have changed.
Millie Bobby Brown – Eleven
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The girl who once communicated more with her eyes than words now has a life packed with major responsibilities. Millie Bobby Brown is now a mother after adopting a baby girl with Jake Bongiovi in 2025, and she’s choosing to keep her daughter’s world quiet for now. Her production company, PCMA Productions, is growing. On top of that, she’s still steering “Enola Holmes,” and her Florence by Mills brand keeps expanding.
Finn Wolfhard – Mike Wheeler
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Leading the group through those early Hawkins adventures was his first brush with responsibility, though now it shows up behind the camera. His film Hell of a Summer hit theaters through Neon in April 2025, and his solo album Happy Birthday followed a few months later. He’s mentioned he’s single for now because his schedule is packed and he wants to stay focused while his career opens new doors.
Gaten Matarazzo – Dustin Henderson
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People remember the cap, the grin, and the sharp timing, but Gaten Matarazzo has stepped into a different rhythm as an adult. Broadway keeps drawing him in, with standout turns in Sweeney Todd and Dear Evan Hansen. He’s taken on voice work, including Animal Farm, and has been honest about the nerves that come with the series ending since Stranger Things offered a level of stability that’s uncommon in this industry.
Caleb McLaughlin – Lucas Sinclair
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Professional polish showed up early in Caleb McLaughlin’s performance because he came in with Broadway training. That background is paying off now that he’s building a varied career. He’s starring as the lead voice in the upcoming animated film “Goat,” releasing in 2026, and he’s already stacked work like “The Deliverance” and a growing catalog of R&B tracks.
Sadie Sink – Max Mayfield
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Sadie Sink, who joined the cast in season 2, was put in a tricky spot since the original group was already famous. By the time season 4 aired, her “Running Up That Hill” sequence became one of the show’s biggest moments. Her 2025 choices show she likes a challenge, including starring in the rock opera “O’Dessa,” where her singing got more attention than the film itself.
Noah Schnapp – Will Byers
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Starting as the smallest cast member didn’t stop Noah Schnapp from gaining a huge following once Will returned from the Upside Down. These days, he’s balancing his screen life with college at the Wharton School while running his own snack brand, TBH, which focuses on sustainable hazelnut spreads. He also talked publicly about how playing Will helped him understand aspects of his own identity, something fans connected with instantly.
Joe Keery – Steve Harrington
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There was a time when Steve Harrington was meant to stay a background character, but Joe Keery shifted that quickly with how he played him. His music career as Djo has become massive, especially after the release of “The Crux” in 2025 and his Back On You Tour, which hit cities across North America and Europe. The success of “End of Beginning” cemented his status as a real touring artist, not someone dabbling between acting jobs.
Natalia Dyer – Nancy Wheeler
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In the beginning, the character known for good grades and an unexpected aim turned into someone who could handle a shotgun without blinking. Natalia Dyer kept growing alongside Nancy, and her career now includes films like “Velvet Buzzsaw,” “Yes, God, Yes,” and “Tuscaloosa,” plus her role in “Based on a True Story.” She’s spoken about how closely tied she feels to Nancy, since they essentially grew up at the same time.
Charlie Heaton – Jonathan Byers
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Jonathan Byers arrived as a soft-spoken, artistic kid, yet Charlie Heaton has steadily pushed his work into deeper, more grounded territory. His season 5 scenes include some of his most open, vulnerable moments on the show. Beyond Hawkins, he’s appeared in Shut In, Marrowbone, and The New Mutants, and he’s set to join Industry in its fourth season. He’s been with Natalia Dyer since 2016, and he’s also a dad to a son from an earlier relationship.
Maya Hawke – Robin Buckley
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Her season 3 arrival as the dry, sharp-witted Scoops Ahoy coworker became one of the show’s strongest turns. Maya Hawke has kept that momentum going with roles in Do Revenge, Asteroid City, and Maestro, and she portrayed Flannery O’Connor in Wildcat. Next up is Sunrise on the Reaping, which brings her into the expanding Hunger Games prequel world.