How ‘Stranger Things’ made ‘Vecna on steroids’ for Season 5

Inside: L.‍A.‍'s ascent to a world art capital; how Hollywood helped build air travel; the oddball comedy of "The Artist.‍"  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏  ͏ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­ ­   ADVERTISEMENT December 2, 2025 | View in browser Entertainment 'Stranger Things' wanted to make 'Vecna on steroids' for Season 5. Here's how they did it Jamie Campbell Bower, the actor who plays Vecna in "Stranger Things," breaks down the process of becoming the series' terrifying villain, from his character development to the practical and visual effects behind the scenes. Read More ADVERTISEMENT Commentary: How Hollywood helped build the air travel industry Inside Hollywood's deep, complicated, mutually beneficial (and occasionally tragic) relationship with aviation. Read More Column: L.A. exploded into a world art capital. I was lucky to be here to witness it Los Angeles' ascension coincided with the 46-year career of art critic Christopher Knight. In his final column for The Times, he cites three important factors in that rise. Read More ADVERTISEMENT With new bids, Warner Bros. Discovery looks to narrow the auction field Paramount, Comcast and Netflix are poised to submit a second bid on Monday, kicking the auction into high gear. Read More The only ground left for Karol G to break? Her own After a brush with near-tragedy, the Colombian artist made "Tropicoqueta," an homage to her roots — and her (re-)introduction to a growing global fan base. Read More Keep up with California Your support helps us deliver the news that matters most. Subscribe to the Los Angeles Times. Subscribe Now 'Stranger Things' returns for its final season, and our misfits are poised for battle After a more than three-year absence, it's the beginning of the end for Netflix's hit series, which has endeared gaggle of misfit kids to us and become a cultural touchstone. Read More How 'Stranger Things' became Netflix's 'Star Wars,' propelling it into Hollywood's stratosphere When Netflix was trying to establish itself as a place for original TV shows, "Stranger Things" was a key program that pierced the cultural zeitgeist. Read More 'The Artist' is an oddball comedy filled with big stars and historical figures This Gilded Age murder mystery starring Mandy Patinkin and Janet McTeer involves historical figures like Harry K. Thaw, Evelyn Nesbit, Thomas Edison and Edgar Degas. Read More San Francisco Opera has a hit with Huang Ruo's spectacular 'Monkey King' "The Monkey King," a new opera by Huang Ruo and David Henry Hwang based on a popular Chinese folktale, has proved a major hit for San Francisco Opera. Read More 'Home Improvement's Zachery Ty Bryan arrested again, his sixth arrest over five years "Home Improvement" actor Zachery Ty Bryan's arrest in Oregon adds to his years-long legal troubles. His fiancée is also booked on suspicion of first-degree attempted assault. Read More ADVERTISEMENT Thank you for reading Entertainment Digest from the Los Angeles Times Sign up for more L.A. Times newsletters. Sign Up You received this email because you opted to receive email communications from L.A. Times. Unsubscribe | Manage marketing email preferences | Terms of Service | Privacy Policy | Do Not Sell My Personal Information | CA Notice of Collection Advertisers have no control over editorial decisions or content. Place an ad or classified. Copyright © 2025, Los Angeles Times 2300 E. Imperial Highway, El Segundo, CA 9‌0245 1-800-LA-TIMES latimes.com