Is Grace Van Dien Returning in ‘Stranger Things’ Season 5?

Published 10/21/2024, 12:05 AM EDT

via Imago

Despite the popularity quotient of certain on-screen projects, some artists only take part in them in the capacity of hit-and-miss. And Stranger Things in its near about decade-long run has seen many characters land out of nowhere only to vanish in the Upside Down. However, with the last dance of the Hawkins gang around the corner, questions have been bubbling up in fans’ minds about a potential return of many such characters, including Grace Van Dien’s Chrissy Cunningham. 

For those trying to get to the roots of that buried truth, here is the possibility that takes the highlight.

Inside Grace Van Dien’s possible return in Stranger Things season 5

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As each day slips away, the clock ominously ticks faster toward the fifth and final season of Stranger Things. Meanwhile, the recent Upside Down Con in Jackson, Georgia, on October 19-20 witnessed a chilling gathering of the Hawkins crew, including Grace Van Dien, Joe Keery, and Mason Dye. Fans haunted by thoughts of Chrissy Cunningham’s return, even though she met her fate in season four, can see her in the shadows of flashbacks, or at least can expected to.

Chrissy lingers in the Upside Down memory as the first soul claimed in the haunting abyss of Stranger Things season 4. Her death, a scene of grotesque horror, even prompted the Duffer Brothers to shroud in regret. The creators also whispered promises of redemption, hinting at a potential return for Chrissy in the next season. While many speculate her haunting presence could emerge through flashbacks or visions like Billy, her recent appearance at the Upside Down Con casts an unsettling shadow of possibility.

Chrissy Cunningham’s (Grace Van Dien) Look in ‘Stranger Things’ 4 Is Olivia Newton-John From ‘Grease’, but With Very ’80s Bangs

While the possibility does heighten the anticipation of every fan who mourned her gruesome death, it also brings Van Dien the opportunity to return to the skin she resonated with the most.

How Grace Van Dien found Chrissy Cunningham personally relatable in Stranger Things

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In a YouTube vlog from March last year, Grace Van Dien weighed in on the reasons she believes she got to play Chrissy Cunningham in Stranger Things despite the rat race of casting call. The popular high school girl, who became friends with another fan-favorite but dead character, Eddie Munson, revealed that the Duffer brothers told her she was the only one among the ones who auditioned who “played Chrissy sweet.”

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Van Dien reflected that the other girls may have misunderstood the character, but she got it right because she “resonated with Chrissy’s struggles and traumas growing up.” Chrissy did give off major high-school queen bee vibes, but Van Dien was tuned in to a lot more than just the surface sparkle that the others missed. Hence, with such an emotional tie with the character, the show, and the cast, her return does not seem out of the question.

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Do you think Grace Van Dien will return to Stranger Things season 5? Let us know in the comments below!

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Anushka Bhattacharya

1403 articles

I'm Anushka Bhattacharya, an entertainment journalist at Netflix Junkie. Armed with a degree in literature, I once wielded my words to catalyze change within society through my work with NGOs. However, as I stumbled into the exuberant hole of crime thrillers and documentaries on Netflix, it was love at first sight and pushed me into entertainment journalism.

Edited By: Itti Mahajan

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