Stranger Things Finale 'Missing Piece' Confirmed by Netflix, Vecna Returns

An upcoming new Stranger Things release may hold the key to unlocking a mystery from the show’s final season.

Netflix has announced a recorded version of Stranger Things: The First Shadow, the live stage show prequel that is set before the events of the popular television series.

As Collider reports, the Stranger Things West End and Broadway show is coming to Netflix as a recorded version, allowing fans to enjoy the prequel story without having to shell out a load of cash to attend one of the live shows.

Netflix will be recording the show this week, but a release date for the show to appear on streaming has not been confirmed yet.

Stranger Things: The First Shadow Clears Up Some Confusion With The Series' Finale

Developed by Kate Trefry, Stranger Things: The First Shadow adapts the backstory of Henry Creel before he becomes the villainous Vecna.

It also features a few other Stranger Things characters, namely Joyce Byers (then Maldonado) and Jim Hopper who become involved with the plot.

Vecna in The Abyss, Netflix

Most importantly, The First Shadow features a plot element that was teased in the final season of Stranger Things but never fully explored: Henry Creel’s early life and the growth of his powers.

It also links up to the scene in the mine, which we saw a few times in the final season involving Henry's encounter with a mysterious man and a briefcase. This scene was a source of confusion for fans who didn’t have the context of the stage play, so this new release coming to Netflix should hopefully clear things up for anyone who was unsure.

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Stranger Things: The First Shadow was developed between the fourth and fifth seasons of the show, opening at the Phoenix Theatre on the West End in London in 2023. It later came to Broadway, showing at the Marquis Theatre in 2025.

Although most of the cast differs between the West End and Broadway productions of the show, the role of Henry Creel is played both times by Irish actor Louis McCartney.

It’s won several awards over the years, including the Laurence Olivier award for Best Entertainment or Comedy Play for the West End show in 2024, and four Tony Awards in 2025 for Best Scenic Design, Best Lighting Design, Best Sound Design of a Play, as well as the Special Tony Award for the Broadway production.