Stranger Things’ Billy Actor Reveals Whether He’s In Season 5

As the wait for Stranger Things season 5 continues, one major series star exclusively told ScreenRant whether their infamous villain would appear in the final outing of the cult hit. Stranger Things season 5 will be released in three parts, with the first batches of episodes arriving on November 26 and December 25, and the finale on December 31.

Although the Stranger Things franchise has a big future at Netflix after the original show ends, the arrival of season 5 will still mark the end of an era. When ScreenRant asked star Dacre Montgomery if he would appear in season 5, or if there was “Anything you want to see from Max,” the actor had this to say:

“I’m going to say a few different things really quickly… This is my top-tier answer: I’m more excited than anything for it to be over for the Duffer Brothers, because I know they have so many other awesome stories that, years ago, they were telling me about. I’m like, “Guys, you haven’t had the bandwidth to make this project.” So, that’s my most exciting thing… Secondly, I’m not in the last season, unfortunately… Thirdly, Max, I want to digress from your point into going towards Sadie as an actress. And I just think she’s such a talented actress that’s had some amazing opportunities over the last few years. I really, more than anything, just want her to see her continue to do so many cool performances outside of Stranger Things, because I just think that she’s so talented, so professional, so driven–all those sorts of things.”

Billy’s Actor Was Season 3’s Primary Villain And Returned Briefly In Season 4

Montgomery’s response came during an interview about his upcoming movie, Went Up the Hill, which will receive a limited theater release on August 15. The dark thriller sees Montgomery play Jack, a young man who meets his estranged mother’s widow after her funeral, only to become embroiled in some unsettling supernatural strangeness with her.

While it is not overly surprising to learn that Montgomery’s iconic Stranger Things villain Billy won’t return in season 5, this is still disappointing news for fans. Billy was one of the show’s best antagonists ever, and his final redemption was one of the most moving moments in the show’s nine-year history.

Admittedly, Montgomery’s return as Billy would have been tough to justify in Stranger Things season 5, since the actor had already reprised the role once in season 4. Before Max’s iconic face-off against Vecna, set to Kate Bush’s “Running Up That Hill,” the villain took the form of Billy while Max was visiting her step-brother’s grave.

Our Take On Dacre Montgomery’s Stranger Things Season 5 Absence

Billy’s Return Would Have Been Hard To Accommodate

Billy’s season 4 comeback was haunting as Vecna used the voice and appearance of her brother to deepen Max’s guilt and depression. Although Billy’s Stranger Things story ended with a comparatively heroic moment of sacrifice, the season 4 sequence was Montgomery’s villain at his steeliest and scariest.

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Although the scene was a success, this only makes it more difficult to envision a season 5 return for the character. Unlike Joseph Quinn’s Eddie Munson, who was only killed off in the finale of season 4, Billy has enjoyed a fully rounded character arc in Stranger Things.

Thus, while it might make sense for Quinn’s character to reappear in the show’s final outing to tie up loose ends, bringing back Billy for a second time would be tougher to justify. As such, although Dacre Montgomery’s Billy remains a firm fan favorite, it makes sense that he won’t appear in Stranger Things season 5.

Stranger Things

8/10

Release Date

2016 – 2025

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer

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