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Flash-forward or flashback? 'Stranger Things' Season 5 set photos hint at 2 major characters'

A set photo featuring Mike and Hopper sparked multiple theories about their fate the finale

Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) and Jim Hopper (David Harbour) are two major characters who came close to punching their ticket in 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Vol. 1. However, both survive with Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) saving Mike, and Hopper making it through after surviving a Demogorgon rampage, a fight with Linda Hamilton's Dr. Kay, and after steeling himself for a potential encounter with Vecna.

However, a latest set photo doing the rounds on X (formerly Twitter) sees Hopper in his Sheriff's uniform sitting on a bench alongside Mike. This sparked multiple theories about the finale, with some fans believing the duo will survive the brutal battle in Hawkins.

It's worth noting that Hopper and Steve (Joe Keery) almost died in the previous editions, but creators Duffer Brothers decided against the idea of killing the two beloved characters. Speaking to Entertainment Weekly, the duo said Steve and Hopper were almost killed off in the earlier seasons. "Hopper at the end of season 3," they said. "I think death grazed him."

There was a version where he perished at the end of 3. It’s been a while since we had those discussions, but I feel like he came the closest to dying. It would’ve been very easy to kill him, but Hopper still had growing to do. We hadn’t finished his story. It’s important to us to be able to finish the stories we want to finish and not just be offering people for shock value." They further added, "That was close. We just fell in love with Joe Keery, but had we not liked Joe Keery, Steve would’ve been gone."

They also weighed in on the impact of a major name's death on the show. "What often holds us back is you have to talk about the repercussions," Matt said, explaining how killing a central character like Mike (Finn Wolfhard) could completely change the show’s tone. "It just makes the show rather depressing and bleak, and it becomes entirely about that."

That said, it is still unclear who will die by the end of the season. At the time of writing, Steve is still looked at as one of the heroes of Hawkins, likely to die a tragic death, especially with the cast teasing an epic ending. Only time will tell if Hopper will make it out alive by the end of Season 5.

'Stranger Things' Season 2 Vol. 5 releases on Christmas Day on Netflix.