Maya Hawke has an update that will turn your frown upside down.
The Stranger Things actress shared that part of the reason season five of the hit Netflix series is taking so long to film is the hefty length of each episode.
“We’re making, basically, eight movies," Maya explained during the June 27 episode of Penn Badgley's Podcrushed podcast. "The episodes are very long.”
Still, the Do Revenge star—who is daughter to Ethan Hawke and Uma Thurman—acknowledged that show creators Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer's workflow also plays a role in the three-year wait between the fourth and fifth installment.
“Our showrunners, Matt and Ross, take a lot of responsibility," Maya continued. "They have an amazing team of writers, but they’re very involved."
Noting that the Duffer Brothers are "very intense and serious" about the writing quality, the 25-year-old explained, "It takes a long time to write each season, and it takes a long time to shoot them.”
As for what she hopes to happen to her character Robin Buckley when the finale finally does arrive? Maya previously confessed that she'd "love to die and get my hero's moment."
“I’d love to die with honor," she told Rolling Stone in a September 2022 interview, "as any actor would."
But whether she gets that arc or not, Maya trusts the Duffers' vision.
"I love the way that the Duffer Brothers love their actors," she gushed. "The reason that they write so beautifully for me and for everyone else is because they fall in love with their actors and their characters, and they don’t want to kill them."
Maya added, "I think that’s a beautiful quality that they have, and I wouldn’t wish it away.”
Stranger Things season five is set to release in 2025. While you wait, catch up on all the TV shows that will premiere this year.
Virgin River (Netflix) - Dec. 19
This sixth season promises fresh twists and turns, escalating love triangles, delightful wedding drama, as well as uncovered secrets from Mel’s father’s past which will transport us to the magic and mystique of Virgin River in the 1970s.
Laid (Peacock) - Dec. 19
In the new series, a woman finds out her former lovers are dying in unusual ways and must go back through her sex timeline to confront her past in order to move forward. Laid is a f--ked up rom-com where the answer to “why can’t I find love, is there something wrong with me?” is a resounding “Yes. There is. The problem is definitely you.”
Ilana Glazer: Human Magic (Hulu) - Dec. 20
The Broad City alum tackles everything from motherhood to being a stoner in her new stand-up special.
Josh Groban & Friends Go Home for the Holidays (CBS) - Dec. 20
Hosted and executive produced by Josh Groban, the special features a new format combining compelling stories, music, comedy and a live adoption on stage, celebrating the creation of a new family. Musical performances include holiday classics, new releases and original duets with Groban and his guests, including James Bay, Jennifer Hudson, Tori Kelly and The War And Treaty.
2024 Back That Year Up with Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson (Peacock) - Dec. 23
2024 Back That Year Up With Kevin Hart and Kenan Thompson returns for a third annual special highlighting the biggest moments of the year. The comedic duo will close out the year with their unfiltered humor as they recap the past year of pop culture, sports, social media and politics. The special will feature guest appearances from the year’s most talked about celebrities, including Nate Bargatze, Mookie Betts, Kenny G, Blake Griffin, Jon Hamm, Jonquel Jones, Seth Meyers, mgk and Rashida ‘Sheedz’ Olayiwola.
The Flipping El Moussas (HGTV) - Dec. 26
Real estate power couple Tarek and Heather Rae El Moussa will continue to grow their working relationship while juggling the addition of a rambunctious toddler to their busy family life in the newest season of their follow-doc series.
The season will kick off in Hawthorne, California, where Tarek and Heather Rae tackle their most extreme flip project to date.
Squid Game 2 (Netfix) - Dec. 26
Three years after winning Squid Game, Player 456 gave up going to the states and comes back with a new resolution in his mind. Gi-hun once again dives into the mysterious survival game, starting another life-or-death game with new participants gathered to win the prize of 45.6 billion won.