After the Stranger Things Season 4 finale, Max Mayfield’s (Sadie Sink) future was left in limbo. Everyone’s best friend was left in a coma after encountering Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) again in the Upside Down, resulting in severe injuries. With no one knowing what her fate will be, creators Matt and Ross Duffer tease that Max will have a “heartbreaking” scene in Stranger Things Season 5.
In an interview with Variety, the Duffer brothers hinted that Sink will still have an active role in Stranger Things Season 5. However, the two were very careful not to reveal any details, maintaining the show’s secrecy, as she was last seen lying unconscious in the hospital.
“She’s going to play a part in the season,” Matt teased.
Ross added that they didn’t want to reveal how it could be possible given Max’s situation. However, Matt couldn’t help but make a significant reveal about one scene involving Max that fans should watch while praising how much she has grown as a confident actor.
“We did film a scene the other day with her that was just absolutely heartbreaking,” he continued. “I don’t know how she hits those notes.”
As part of the interview, Sink revealed that the Duffer brothers loved having her "run," hinting at another possible running scene, likely involving Vecna. Though it remains to be seen whether this scene will take place in the Upside Down or Hawkins now that the gates have opened, the 22-year-old star mentioned that this was the only detail she could share.
Will Max survive in Stranger Things Season 5?
Max may be the only survivor of Vecna’s curse, but it comes with significant consequences. After Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the rest of their friends defend her while attacking Vecna’s body as he battles Eleven in the Upside Down, Max suffers broken arms and legs, is blinded, and is left in a coma. Eleven tries to find her in the void, but she’s nowhere to be found.
As Vecna once said, the Hawkins Lab kids aren’t gone and “are right here” with him while tapping his head, suggesting that Max may be trapped in the villain’s mind. Though it's uncertain whether she will survive, Eleven and their friends will surely do everything to save her. If Max is indeed in Vecna’s mind, Eleven may be the only one who can help her with her ability to enter someone else’s mind. So, if she manages to defeat Vecna, Max might finally be freed, though how she will recover from her physical injuries is still up in the air.
The Duffer brothers and Sink’s latest update about Max’s future hints that she will be back on her feet in Stranger Things Season 5. Though it’s uncertain how this will happen, given Max’s strong personality, she will surely fight to survive.
Stranger Things Season 4 are available on Netflix, while Season 5 is expected to be released in 2025.
