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Manila Bulletin devider Lifestyle devider Meet Vecna, the newest villain to bring terror in 'Stranger Things'

Meet Vecna, the newest villain to bring terror in 'Stranger Things'

Published Apr 19, 2022 11:05 am

So long, Demogorgon and Mind Flayer

The latest trailer of Netflix’s hit series “Stranger Things” brings more questions than answers about its fourth and fifth seasons. While we juggle our minds on how Jim Hopper (David Harbour) is alive or why Max (Sadie Sink) is floating in mid-air, one thing is for sure, season four is set to introduce a new prime villain, and it looks even more menacing and malevolent than its predecessors.

Through an Instagram post, the series confirms fans’ speculations about the name of its latest baddy. Much like past seasons’ Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer, the new antagonist called Vecna is hailed from the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons, a favorite of the series’ foursome—Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), and Will (Noah Schnapp). Vecna is described as a “powerful wizard who became a lich,” a form of an undead creature in the game.

The show’s creators Matt and Ross Duffer told Deadline that the forthcoming series will present the roots of all the unusual things happening in the fictional town of Hawkins in Indiana, and many are guessing Vecna would be it.

In a trailer breakdown the Duffer Brothers did with IGN, they expressed that the inspiration for the character is from the bogeymen seen in ’80s movies. “We wanted to introduce the idea right away that there is a major new threat,” they said. “We’ve always wanted to do our... whatever version of... a Freddy Krueger, or a Pinhead, or a Pennywise. Because those were the monsters... the villains... supernatural villains that terrified us the most when we were growing up.”

Of course, fans of the show are quick to speculate that the character is Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery), Max’s brother who died during “The Battle of Starcourt" episode in season three. Billy was possessed by the Mind Flayer before sacrificing his life to save Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).

Apart from the Duffer Brothers’ description and fans’ conspiracy theories, it looks like we would have to wait until the show’s premiere to know the full and real story behind Vecna.

“Stranger Things” season four will be divided into two volumes due to its “unprecedented length.” Volume One will premiere on May 27, while Volume Two on July 1. Watch its latest trailer here:

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