Finn Wolfhard opens up about bittersweet goodbye to Stranger Things: “It felt like I was in a dream”

After nearly a decade of portraying Mike Wheeler on Stranger Things, Finn Wolfhard admits that saying goodbye to the beloved Netflix series was anything but straightforward. Speaking to People, the 22-year-old reflected on the whirlwind of emotions he experienced while filming the show’s final scenes.

“It was definitely a lot,” Wolfhard said, describing the surreal nature of wrapping up a project that’s been a core part of his life since he was 13. “I felt like I was in a dream or something. None of it felt real.”

While the ending brought him a sense of satisfaction, the actor revealed it wasn’t without emotional complexity. “I was so happy with his ending… but I was also very confused and sad, but also very happy,” he shared, echoing the layered feelings of many long-time fans anticipating the conclusion.

The actor admitted that the gravity of the moment didn’t quite hit him right away. “It didn’t really start to go into focus until the next day. It was like an emotional hangover,” Wolfhard said. “I just couldn’t believe it at all.”

Having grown up alongside his castmates—Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Sadie Sink—Wolfhard emphasised the impact the series had on his life. “I just have such positive things to say about everyone,” he added.

Meanwhile, series creators Matt and Ross Duffer have promised an epic sendoff for fans. At a Netflix event earlier this year, they shared that Season 5 is their most ambitious yet: “We spent a full year filming this season. By the end, we’d captured over 650 hours of footage. So, needless to say, this is our biggest and most ambitious season yet. It’s like eight blockbuster movies.”