Collider's Steve Weintraub recently sat down with "Stranger Things" stars Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Natalia Dyer, and Charlie Heaton to discuss the highly anticipated fifth and final season of the beloved Netflix series. The cast expressed complicated feelings about reading the season finale script together, reflecting on the emotional impact of closing such a significant chapter of their lives. Despite the high stakes for Will (Noah Schnapp), Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and the rest of the party as they prepare to face Vecna's (Jamie Campbell Bower) formidable Upside Down army, the actors were in great spirits while promoting Volume 1, set to drop on Netflix on November 26.

The discussion delved into the profound experience of reading the final script. Natalia Dyer described it as hard to process "all at once," with moments where the weight of it truly hit, feeling "big." Maya Hawke, offering a different perspective, expressed immense happiness with some of the last scenes, finding joy in how the characters' arcs concluded, stating it was "everything I dreamed it would be." Charlie Heaton recalled a moment of universal stillness after the last page was turned, where "nobody knew what to do" – even the Duffer brothers were at a loss for words – followed by an outpouring of hugs, marking a collective acceptance of the show's end.

The last week of filming was equally intense and multilayered. Joe Keery focused on living in the moment and soaking up the experience, cherishing the time spent together and the milestone things happening. Natalia Dyer noted the additional complexity of the timing, coinciding with Christmas and year-end, which meant many cast members were physically moving their lives out of the production location. Maya Hawke described a "lot of lasts" – from final visits to the costume shop and prop department to packing personal belongings. The logistics of moving out, coupled with the emotional farewells, made it feel "like leaving camp."

The actors also shared anecdotes from their press days. Despite the repetitive nature of some questions, they found joy in being together, especially for the final season. Maya Hawke mentioned playing a "junket game" where they try to insert a specific word into an interview, revealing it's "tricky" with unusual words like "xylophone" but also a way to "find out who your friends are." Charlie Heaton and Joe Keery confirmed the game's difficulty but acknowledged its entertainment value, with Joe noting that such moments explain why viewers might hear "weird words" during interviews.

Beyond "Stranger Things," the conversation shifted to their favorite films by renowned directors Steven Spielberg and Christopher Nolan. For Spielberg, Joe Keery favored "E.T.," while Charlie Heaton and Natalia Dyer shared a special mention for "A.I." Maya Hawke also cited "E.T." as "formative," and other Spielberg classics like "Jurassic Park," "Schindler’s List," "Jaws," and "Saving Private Ryan" were noted. When it came to Christopher Nolan, Charlie Heaton's teenage favorite was "The Dark Knight Rises," though his adult choice was "Interstellar." Natalia Dyer appreciated "Inception" and "The Dark Knight Rises." Maya Hawke had a unique connection to "Tenet" as her first post-pandemic cinema experience, though "Inception" remains her overall favorite. Joe Keery chose "Inception" or "Memento." The interviewer also expressed a liking for "Inception," "The Prestige," and "The Dark Knight."

The interview concluded with Maya Hawke confessing to taking "a lot of Winona [Ryder]'s socks" from the set because they were cute, and she often loses her own. Joe Keery, who "tried his best" to take "fucking everything" from the costume and prop warehouses, faced the challenge of sheer volume, described by Charlie Heaton as akin to "The Matrix" weapons scene. Despite the vastness, Joe managed to acquire items over multiple visits. "Stranger Things" Season 5, Volume 1 is scheduled to premiere on Netflix on November 26.