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Stranger Things season 4 fan theories: The ‘American’ isn’t Hopper, but presumed dead original character

This would be a huge surprise for fans of the Netflix show

Jacob Stolworthy
Thursday 22 August 2019 05:35 EDT
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Stranger Things cast members discuss the show's ending

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Stranger Things excitement is still in overdrive following the release of season three, and fans are continuing to predict what to expect in season four.

While a new run is yet to be confirmed by Netflix, it seems extremely likely the Duffer brothers will get the green-light considering the show is one of the streaming service’s most successful TV shows.

At this stage, it seems abundantly clear that the show is lining up the welcome return of a beloved character after they seemingly died in the season three finale – but, that return might not go down in the way fans expect.

*Potential spoilers follow – you have been warned*

Many have expressed the belief that Hopper (David Harbour) is the imprisoned ”American” referenced in the finale’s mid-credits sequence, but a recent theory predicted the prisoner will actually revealed to be Billy (Dacre Montgomery).

Well, a new contender has emerged – and it’s an original character who seemingly died after being attacked by the Demogorgon in season two: Dr Martin Brenner (Matthew Modine).

Reddit user kony_stark predicts that “the Russians have been using him for his science in their attempt to access the Upside Down.”

Corroborating this is the fact that one scene at the end of season two sees Ray Carroll (Pruitt Taylor Vince), a former agent for the Department of Energy, claim that Brenner is still alive – and that he knows where he is.

Could Carroll be referring to the Russian prison seen at the end of season three? If so, the Reddit user predicts Brenner will somehow reunite with Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) – who may or may not become the new season’s chief villain – in an attempt to save Hopper, who may be stuck in the Upside Down.

It’s an interesting theory that, if it comes true, would bring things full circle for the show.

Stranger Things Final Trailer

Find all the season four details we know so far here.

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