This Eddie Munson fan theory completely delighted the creators of Stranger Things

With a series as popular and with a fan base as devoted as “Stranger Things,” there will always be fan theories about how the story could develop. Since the series’ debut in 2016, its inherent mystery has sparked all kinds of speculation about what’s really going on in Hawkins, Indiana. But there have also been several fan theories about specific characters, including how Joseph Quinn’s Eddie Munson could return from the grave as a literal vampire. And while creators Matt and Ross Duffer have fun reading about such theories, they have unambiguously shut down the whole vampire idea, saying it would essentially amount to the show’s “jump the shark” moment.

There have been many tragic deaths over the course of “Stranger Things,” but Eddie’s disappearance serves as a particularly devastating example. At the end of Season 4, the Hellfire Club leader and effortlessly cool metalhead sacrificed himself to help save Hawkins by standing atop a caravan and ripping the solo “Master of Puppets” to distract the swarms of Demobats, allowing his friends to escape. Killing off such a fan favorite was one of the most controversial moments in “Stranger Things” history. The fans held on to Eddie, making sure he became THE flagship character of the fourth season and propelling Quinn to stardom. His death was therefore difficult to accept.

Now that Eddie is gone, fans are having a hard time letting go, with many suggesting the character will return in the fifth and final season of “Stranger Things.” But according to the Duffer brothers, Eddie remains firmly rooted to the ground.

The “Stranger Things” timeline is littered with beloved characters who were taken away too soon, from Shannon Purser’s Barb to Alec Utgoff’s Dr. Alexei. Eddie Munson, however, was not a minor character who perished in the service of the plot, but a full-fledged hero who gave his life for his friends and was destined to become a fan favorite from the start. As such, these fans had a hard time accepting that he really went from the “Stranger Things”-verse and posited that it was just a big mistake. In an interview with the Hollywood Reporter, however, the Duffer brothers threw cold water on this idea.

When asked about fan theories in general, the duo claimed that “the vast majority of them are false.” This goes for all the theories suggesting that Eddie could return from the grave, with Ross Duffer telling the outlet that the character is “very six feet under.” Still, he and his brother seemed particularly excited about the fan theory that we’ll see the metalhead Quinn return as a sidekick to the series’ big bad Vecna ​​(Jamie Campbell Bower). This idea comes from the Dungeons and Dragons world, where the character Kas the Betrayer ends up becoming Vecna’s vampiric right-hand man before betraying him. “There was a lot of buzz about Eddie coming back as a vampire. I saw that one over and over again,” recalls Ross Duffer, his brother adding:

“Yeah, it was crazy. Can you imagine Eddie growing wings, turning into a bat and fighting the demobat? It’s bad. I also imagine Joe Quinn’s face on top of a [bat]. I think this would have really blown the whistle, but Joe Quinn made it even worse by not killing this rumor. »

Eddie Munson’s death in season 4 of “Stranger Things” was one of the most shocking moments in the show’s history. This is despite the fact that the Duffers had foreshadowed it throughout the season via Eddie’s desire to become as heroic as his Dungeons & Dragons characters. Nonetheless, fans are still having a hard time letting go of the charismatic teenager, and with “Stranger Things” set to end with its fifth season, almost all are hoping for some sort of closure, explanation or consolation.

This has led to some pretty wild theories regarding the character’s possible return. Besides the vampire theory, fans have speculated that Eddie was actually one of the children with telekinetic powers who survived the massacre at Dr. Martin Brenner’s (Matthew Modine) lab and might have survived thanks to his secret abilities. Other theories claim that Eddie is simply hidden or perhaps trapped in Vecna’s mind, and fans have pointed to the fact that Netflix continues to produce Eddie spinoffs as supporting the idea that he would return, which… sure, but also, there are profits to be made.

Meanwhile, Joseph Quinn has indeed encouraged fans, having previously revealed his own plan for Eddie’s possible return in season 5. He also told Entertainment Tonight in 2024 that he “might have a feeling” that Eddie would return and apparently did little to downplay the rumors in general. As Ross Duffer told THR, “He dragged everyone down. Damn, Joe.” Either way, it seems unlikely he’ll be back for the final season. “I love Joe and I love Eddie’s character, but he’s really six feet under, so RIP,” Ross Duffer added.

“Stranger Things” season 5, volume 1 is now streaming.