The Upside Down may be chaotic, but the red carpet for Stranger Things Season 5 was pure nostalgia.
On Thursday (November 6), Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour reunited at the highly anticipated Los Angeles premiere, flashing warm smiles and familiar chemistry as they greeted each other at the TCL Chinese 6 Theatres. Fans couldn’t help but notice the moment, especially after weeks of speculation surrounding the two stars.
Despite recent controversy — including rumors that Millie had filed harassment complaints against her longtime co-star — the pair appeared every bit as friendly as ever. According to Netflix’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, they even arrived together.
On the hit series, David plays Jim Hopper, the gruff but big-hearted father figure to Millie’s Eleven. Their on-screen relationship has been a cornerstone of the show since its debut, symbolizing found family, protection, and love in the face of darkness. But off-screen, their dynamic has recently faced public scrutiny.
The 50-year-old Marvel actor has been under fire after his ex-wife, singer Lily Allen, accused him of infidelity. Around the same time, reports surfaced claiming the 21-year-old Enola Holmes star had filed a formal complaint of harassment and bullying against him.
Now, the Stranger Things creators are breaking their silence — well, almost.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter at the world premiere, co-creator Ross Duffer emphasized the team’s dedication to maintaining a positive work environment.
“Obviously, you understand I can’t get into personal onset matters, but I will say we’ve been doing this for 10 years with this cast, and at this point they’re family and we deeply care about them. So, you know, nothing matters more than just having a set where everyone feels safe and happy,” Ross said.
He added that after a decade of creating the supernatural series, ensuring the safety and happiness of their cast remains their top priority.
Executive producer Shawn Levy echoed that sentiment.
“At the end of the day, that’s the job,” he said. “You have to create a respectful workplace where everyone feels comfortable and safe, and so we did everything to build that environment. And we’re proud of the fact that we did so.”
Levy also addressed the speculation more directly:
“I’ve read a bunch of stories and they range from wildly inaccurate to… there’s so much noise around it. But the truth is that we view this crew and this cast as family, and so we treat each other with respect, and that’s always been bedrock.”
While neither the Duffer brothers nor Levy confirmed or denied the rumors outright, their comments suggest the speculation may be overblown.
Stranger Things Season 5 marks the end of an era, but the cast’s family dynamic seems as strong as ever — both in Hawkins and beyond.
