Stranger Things Season 5 Opening Scene Reveals Will Byers’ Terrifying Origin

Netflix has finally unveiled the first five minutes of Stranger Things Season 5. The exclusive premiere was shown during the TUDUM global fan event. It took place at the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood on November 6, 2025.

The long-awaited preview provides a chilling look into Will Byers’ forgotten trauma. This revelation directly sets the stage for the series’ final chapter. According to Reuters, the event drew millions of live viewers worldwide.

New Footage Revisits a Classic Horror

The scene opens with a young Will Byers in the Upside Down forest from 1983. He is seen sleeping and softly singing the Clash song “Should I Stay Or Should I Go.” He suddenly wakes up, terrified by the sound of an approaching Demogorgon.

Will grabs a gun and fires at the creature. The attack proves useless. He then flees in a panic, desperately climbing a tree to escape.

The Demogorgon follows him with terrifying agility. Will attempts to jump to another tree but plummets to the ground. The fall knocks him unconscious, leaving him completely vulnerable.

Vecna’s Menacing Introduction Changes Everything

The Demogorgon drags Will’s limp body to a clearing. There, the boy is presented to Vecna. The scene confirms Vecna’s early involvement in Hawkins’ horrors.

Vecna’s tentacles grab Will and press him against a wall. The villain then leans in close to the helpless child. “At long last, we can begin,” Vecna whispers menacingly.

He reveals his dark plan directly to Will. “You and I, we are going to do such beautiful things together, William.” A tentacle then covers Will’s mouth, ending the scene. This moment finally explains the source of Will’s enduring connection to the Upside Down.

The intense preview confirms cast promises of a brutal final season. It masterfully ties the ending back to the very beginning of the story. The emotional weight of Will’s experience will undoubtedly shape the final battle for Hawkins.

The opening scene for Stranger Things Season 5 provides a crucial missing piece of the puzzle. This terrifying flashback recontextualizes Will Byers’ entire journey. The final season is poised to be the show’s most emotionally resonant and horrifying yet.

Thought you’d like to know-

What happens in the Stranger Things Season 5 opening scene?

The scene shows Will Byers’ immediate aftermath after being taken by the Demogorgon in 1983. He is hunted in the Upside Down and ultimately captured by Vecna, who reveals a dark plan for them.

Does Vecna appear in the Season 5 premiere?

Yes, Vecna appears and directly confronts the young Will Byers. This confirms his presence and influence from the earliest days of the series’ events.

How does the new scene connect to Season 1?

It directly shows the missing time from Will’s original disappearance. The scene finally explains why he was so traumatized after being rescued and his lingering connection to the Upside Down.

Where was the Season 5 preview first shown?

Netflix debuted the exclusive five-minute clip during its TUDUM fan event. The livestream originated from the TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood.

Why is this opening scene so significant?

It provides a terrifying origin story for Will’s character arc. The moment establishes that Vecna has been a primary antagonist from the very beginning, shaping the entire narrative.

Trusted Sources

Netflix, Reuters