Joseph Quinn, who played Eddie Munson, leader of the Hellfire Club, in Stranger Things season 4, has dashed the hopes of fans who have been calling for his character’s return. Eddie’s character arc sees him transform from a coward to a hero as he sacrifices himself to save Dustin from the Upside Down after being ostracized from the town following the murder of Chrissy Cunningham by the season’s villain, Vecna. Despite his popularity with fans, Joseph Quinn has expressed that there may not be a chance for Eddie’s revival in the show.
Joseph Quinn recently attended London Comic-Con to discuss Stranger Things season 4 as production nears its end. During the event, Quinn was asked about the possibility of his character, Eddie Munson, returning for season 5, but his response left fans disappointed. Despite expressing his desire to reprise the role, he acknowledged that it was unlikely to happen. Here’s what Quinn had to say:
I mean, they’re shooting soon! I don’t know… I’d love to be – I died. I think it’s probably unlikely. That’s my honest answer.
Why Eddie’s return to Stranger Things wouldn’t be possible
As Stranger Things approached season 4 part 2, it appeared highly likely that Eddie’s character would meet his demise, in keeping with the show’s tendency to kill off beloved secondary characters. Moreover, it would be challenging to justify his innocence to the skeptical town of Hawkins. Nonetheless, audiences were devastated by his death, owing to the natural rapport Joseph Quinn shared with Gaten Matarazzo and Joe Keery. This resulted in a clamor for his return in season 5, with some speculating that he could be transformed into a Vecna minion to facilitate his comeback.
Although other cast and crew members have weighed in on the matter, Joseph Quinn’s recent statements are the first time he has explicitly addressed Eddie’s potential return in Stranger Things. Maya Hawke has previously acknowledged fans’ desire for Eddie’s comeback but warned that repeatedly reviving deceased characters would be irritating. Meanwhile, producer Shawn Levy has also accepted his and the creative team’s fondness for Eddie but conceded that it was “highly unlikely” that he would be brought back.
Despite the excitement generated by the possibility of Eddie returning to Stranger Things, the fact remains that such a move would be detrimental to both the show and the character. Millie Bobby Brown had previously criticized the show for not killing off enough characters, and although the Duffer Brothers pushed back against that idea, many fans agreed with Brown that the survival of characters like Hopper and Max has undermined the show’s stakes. It is hoped that the Duffer Brothers remain true to their vision as they commence filming for season 5 in June.