Darkness is falling across the land and the midnight hour is close at hand, which must mean it’s nearly time for the much-anticipated second season of Netflix’s smash hit horror series, Stranger Things. With the new run due to arrive on the streaming service in slightly over a month’s time, EW has now released a bunch of photos which tease what’s to befall the eerie town of Hawkins this Halloween.
In particular, the images highlight a couple of new additions to the cast and hint at what role they might play. Firstly, Lord of the Rings‘ Sean Astin is joining as Bob Newby, an old school pal of Joyce’s who enters back into her life. As can be seen in a couple of the pics, the pair will get awfully close, which will no doubt put a spanner in the works of the growing affection between David Harbour’s Hopper and Winona Ryder’s put-upon mom.
Next up, Power Rangers star Dacre Montgomery is playing teenager Billy. He seems pretty innocuous here, but don’t let that fool you. Though charming on the surface, Billy is apparently prone to fits of violence and unpredictable behaviour. Montgomery has even said that he based his performance on Jack Nicholson’s crazed turn in The Shining.
As for the kids of Hawkins that we got to know and love last season, things don’t look to be going so well for them. Once you get past the fun sight of Mike, Dustin and Lucas cosplaying as Ghosbusters, you’ll notice the horrified expressions on their faces. Meanwhile, Will Byers seems to be gravely ill in hospital, which is no doubt a consequence of his imprisonment in the Upside Down throughout season 1. Last but not least, Eleven is looking lost now that she’s returned to Hawkins, although she is rocking a classic 1980s perm.
So, what does it all mean? We’ll find out when Stranger Things season 2 lands on – when else? – October 31st.
