Key Highlights
- Billy Hargrove will not return in the Stranger Things series finale.
- Dacre Montgomery confirmed his absence from the final season.
- The two-hour finale episode, titled “The Rightside Up,” airs on New Year’s Eve 2025.
- Montgomery expressed excitement for future projects with co-creators the Duffer Brothers.
The Stranger Things Finale: What to Expect Without Billy Hargrove
Stranger Things fans will have to say goodbye to Billy Hargrove in the series finale, as actor Dacre Montgomery confirmed his absence from the final season. This news comes just a few days before the much-anticipated two-hour episode titled “The Rightside Up,” which is set to air on New Year’s Eve 2025 at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT on Netflix.
Montgomery Opens Up About His Absence
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, Montgomery shared his thoughts about the series’ end. “The thing I’m most excited for is now that the Duffer Brothers are done with the show, they have so many other amazing ideas that I’m excited about,” he said. This statement underscores the actor’s gratitude towards the creators and his anticipation of their future projects.
Looking Back on Billy’s Arc
Billy Hargrove played a significant role in the series, especially in season 3 when he redeemed himself by protecting Max Mayfield from the Mind Flayer. Montgomery took a six-year hiatus after Stranger Things to focus on his personal life and career direction before returning to film with projects like Dead Man’s Wire.
The Future of the Duffer Brothers
Despite not appearing in the finale, Montgomery is enthusiastic about what lies ahead for co-creators Ross Duffer and Matt Duffer. The duo has two new Netflix series in development: “The Boroughs,” a supernatural mystery set in a retirement community starring Geena Davis, and “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen,” which centers on a doomed wedding event with Camila Morrone and Adam DiMarco.
Finale Details and Streaming
The Stranger Things series finale will premiere tonight at 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT, wrapping up the story set in fall 1987 in Hawkins.
The show will also receive theatrical screenings in select locations, offering fans a cinematic experience for this historic television moment. The timing of the finale on New Year’s Eve creates a unique cultural moment as millions of viewers will count down to 2026 while witnessing the end of a show that captured audiences for nine years.
Netflix released a final chilling trailer on December 30, building anticipation for what the Duffer Brothers have planned as their conclusion. Fans can revisit those memorable Kate Bush sequences one final time as they say goodbye to Hawkins and its inhabitants tonight.
The absence of Billy Hargrove in the series finale doesn’t diminish his impact on the show. His redemptive arc remains one of the most emotionally powerful moments in Stranger Things history, making fans eager to see how their favorite characters fare in this historic episode.
