‘Stranger Things’ Star Joe Keery Says “It’s Time” For Series To End

Stranger Things star Joe Keery is all mixed up about the hit Netflix series coming to an end.

“It does feel like it’s time,” Keery acknowledged in an interview with Women’s Wear Daily, however he says “it won’t be easy for it to end.”

The 31-year-old actor opened up about his time on the show and what it has meant to him. “I owe my whole career to being on that show, and all the opportunities that I had since are because of that show,” he said. “So it’s very convoluted. There’s a sense of relief, there’s a sense of sadness.”

Stranger Things first debuted on Netflix in 2016 after being pitched to several other outlets that regretfully passed on it.

The series has launched several young actors into stardom, including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and Gaten Matarazzo. Keery was 23 when he was first cast in the show as Steve Harrington, whose role has evolved over the course of its four seasons.

Production on Season 5, which will be the show’s final installment, has been put on hold due to the writers’ and actors’ strikes, but when it resumes Keery will be ready. “I guess my goal is to just really soak it up as much as I can while we’re doing it and not take any of it for granted because it’s been an amazing ride with such great people,” he said. “And then once it’s done, move forward and try to just hold on to the joy that we had when we were making it.”

Millie Bobby Brown, who started playing the mysterious Eleven when she was just 11, told the outlet that she’s also ready to move on. “I think I’m ready. It’s been such a huge factor in part of my life, but it’s like graduating high school — it’s like senior year,” she said. “You’re ready to go and blossom and flourish and you’re grateful for the time you’ve had, but it’s time to create your own message and live your own life.”

Season 5 of the hit supernatural series will feature series regular Winona Ryder, as well as Jamie Campbell Bower and Terminator star Linda Hamilton in an undisclosed role.

As Keery’s time in Hawkins, Indiana comes to a close, he seems to have a good handle on why all good stories must have an ending. “Everything has a beginning and the middle and an end,” he told WWD. “It’ll be nice to have the end of this too.”