Vecna's Powers Will Be Different (And Deadlier) In Stranger Things Season 5

The "Stranger Things" series finale will do what no Netflix show has done before by playing in hundreds of AMC movie theaters the same night it hits Netflix. Even without such an unprecedented development, however, the final season as a whole was always going to be a massive cultural event. That surely presented the Duffer brothers, who created the series, with their biggest challenge yet. Will they live up to expectations? That remains to be seen, but we do know that Jamie Campbell Bower's Vecna will be different and even more powerful than he was in season 4.

That's a strong statement considering the central antagonist of the entire "Stranger Things" universe was about as powerful as they come last time around. In an interview from the latest issue of Empire Magazine, however, the Duffers promise he'll be even more formidable in season 5. "We've been calling him Vecna 2.0, because he's changed," Matt Duffer told the outlet. "He's stronger and scarier than ever, with new real-world abilities." In season 4, the villain menaced the kids of Hawkins via psychic traumas before killing his victims in a twisted ritual. Matt continued, "He was deadly because he could infiltrate your mind and manipulate you in that manner. Now he can kick your ass in truly violent ways, like Freddy on steroids."

The "Stranger Things" season 5 trailer already confirmed that Vecna has a new score to settle, but the term "Freddy on steroids" is a pretty good way to promote the new season, and will surely help build momentum for what is already a hugely-anticipated return. With Vecna no longer limited to inflicting pain via psychic transmission, the finale is sure to feature the biggest showdown yet between Vecna and his nemesis.

The "Stranger Things" timeline has already put the kids through hell, but it seems this final season will be the biggest test yet. Making Vecna even more powerful will certainly help in that regard, but the Duffers have also ensured Eleven has received an upgrade. According to Ross Duffer, Millie Bobby Brown's character has "been in training" since last time. "She's not suddenly like Neo or Superman, flying through the sky, but she's definitely stronger now," he continued, with Matt Duffer adding, "She has better control over her powers and can use them in more innovative ways. The closest example, I'd say, is probably the Force."

It sounds like she's going to need those powers with Vecna unleashed. The horrifying ruler of the Upside Down started as Henry Creel, a child with telepathic powers who underwent experiments at the hands of Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine). He then became a supervisor of Brenner's work, overseeing the experiments on other children before revealing himself to be an absolute maniac, prompting Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) to overpower him and banish him to the Upside Down.

Now no longer confined to that alternate reality wasteland, Vecna will be menacing the town of Hawkins directly in season 5, which, when we last saw it, was being enveloped in a haze of ash as the Upside Down began encroaching on the real world. Meanwhile, we're all eager to see how Sadie Sink's Max Mayfield figures into the new season of "Stranger Things," seeing as she was left in a coma at the close of the previous season. Considering Vecna tried his best to kill her, he'll surely be looking to finish the job this time around, which will likely be a central storyline of the season.