Gaten Matarazzo has an unusual wish for his character’s journey in Stranger Things season 5 is currently expected to get underway sometime in June 2023, but the finished episodes are not expected to arrive until 2025.

Speaking with USA Today, Matarazzo has revealed his hopes for his fan-favorite character as he moves into the show’s final season. Suggesting he would like to see Dustin get “a bit of an ego check,” he feels his character has become all too aware of his value to both his friends and his role in combating the supernatural threat of the Upside Down. Check out his comments below:

"He knows how smart he is, and at least from Season 4, he's learned how valuable he can be not just to his friend group, but to the collective effort of stopping this (supernatural) threat. I'd like to see him be knocked down a few pegs."

What We Know About Stranger Things Season 5

With the Stranger Things season 4 finale seeing the Upside Down begin to break through and infect the city of Hawkins, the stakes are already high for Matarazzo’s Dustin and his friends. While it is not currently clear how the show’s ragtag collection of heroes will overcome this threat, the show’s creators have revealed that Stranger Things season 5 will include a time jump. This could potentially indicate that when the show returns, Hawkins could already be consumed by the Upside Down, and the alternate realm could have already spread much farther than expected.

While this approach will break the established tradition which saw each previous season take place over consecutive years, it will have the advantage of resolving the issue presented by increasing age gaps. When the show first premiered in 2016, the lead characters were all about 12 years old, but by the time season 5 starts, the “child” actors will mostly be in their 20s. Season 5’s time jump will finally allow the age of the show’s characters to line up with their respective actor’s ages more closely.

As for Matarazzo’s Dustin, he may get the “ego check” the actor desires. Given that Vecna is known for targeting people who are dealing with trauma or guilt, Dustin’s feelings after witnessing Eddie Munson’s death potentially leave him vulnerable to attack. Whether Stranger Things season 5 will see Dustin become a target remains to be seen, but with filming set to get underway in the very near future, additional details may begin to come to light.

Source: USA Today