‘Stranger Things’ Star Caleb McLaughlin Calls Fan Theory ‘Dumb,’ Confirms Series Is Done

Stranger Things star Caleb McLaughlin is making it clear: the hit sci-fi series has officially come to an end.

McLaughlin, who played Lucas Sinclair across all five seasons, recently addressed a popular fan idea known as the “Conformity Gate” theory. Some viewers believed there was a secret extra episode planned after the two-hour series finale.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, McLaughlin said he never believed the theory.

“At first, I thought the ‘Conformity Gate’ theory was dumb,” he said. “I get that people want more Stranger Things, but the show is done. It’s been 10 years. We were full-on kids, and now we’re full-on adults. We don’t need any more of us.”

The Fan Theory Explained

The theory suggested that the emotional and happy ending of the finale was actually a trick created by the show’s villain, Vecna, played by Jamie Campbell Bower. Fans thought the final events were an illusion and that another episode would reveal the truth.

But McLaughlin said that was never the plan.

He explained that creators Ross Duffer and Matt Duffer wanted to end the show on a hopeful note.

“The Duffers wanted to leave everybody with this level of optimism that the show has always given everyone,” McLaughlin said. “If they left without that, we would have lost the true essence of what we’ve represented forever.”

A Full-Circle Ending

The series began with a group of friends playing Dungeons & Dragons, and it ended the same way. In the final scene, Mike Wheeler — played by Finn Wolfhard — leads one last campaign.

“We started off season one playing Dungeons & Dragons, and we ended just like that,” McLaughlin said. “Mike’s storytelling and writing ability is how the show should have ended.”

He added that some fans misunderstood a moment in the finale when Mike suggests that Eleven may have faked her death. McLaughlin said that was simply part of Mike’s imagination and storytelling style — something that has been part of his character since season one.

“It’s all just storytelling,” he explained.

What About Eleven?

When asked whether Eleven survived the finale, McLaughlin gave a clear answer about the character played by Millie Bobby Brown.

“She’s gone,” he said. “I’m so sorry. I think she evaporated.”

The show’s creators have previously said they planned the ending years ago. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Ross Duffer explained that the series was always meant to end with a Dungeons & Dragons campaign and the characters closing the door on their childhood.

“It was always gonna end in a D&D campaign and then leaving and shutting the door on their childhood,” Ross said.

Matt Duffer added, “The final episode is, in fact, the end of this story for these characters. So it’s highly emotional.”

For fans hoping for a surprise return to Hawkins, McLaughlin’s message is simple: the story is finished.