‘Stranger Things’ creators explain the real story behind Eleven's disappearance

The creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, finally explained what happened to Eleven's fate in the end.

According to PEOPLE, the show creators, in an interview with Netflix’s Tudum, stated that they have left Eleven's fate ambiguous and left it up to viewers to decide what they think happens to Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown, as Ross said that she lives on in their hearts, whether that’s real or not.

The brothers also explained why they chose an ambiguous ending, saying, "What we wanted to do was confront the reality of what her situation was after all of this and how could she live a normal life."

Matt shed light on Eleven’s fate, saying that there are two roads that Eleven could take. “There’s this darker, more pessimistic one or the optimistic, hopeful one."

According to him, Mike is the optimist of the group and has chosen to believe in that story.

Meanwhile Ross explained that they never envisioned an ending where Eleven was hanging out with her friends as for the writers, they didn’t want to take her powers away.

"For our characters to move on and for the story of Hawkins and the Upside Down to come to a close, Eleven had to go away," the makers said in the end, adding, "We thought it would be beautiful if our characters continued to believe in that happier ending even if we didn’t give them a clear answer to whether that’s true or not."

Fifth and final season of Stranger Things premiered on December 31, 2025.