Following the release of the exciting trailer for Stranger Things Season 4, the Duffer Brothers have now revealed several details regarding the new Netflix series’ big bad, including its name, with rumors suggesting this latest monster from The Upside Down could have a shocking identity. Beginning with what we know for sure, this latest beast will be known as Vecna, following in the footsteps of both the Mind Flayer and the Demogorgon and taking its name from Dungeons & Dragons.
So what clues can we decipher from the story of Vecna? Regarded as one of the greatest villains in Dungeons & Dragons, Vecna was born human and was one of the members of the “untouchable caste in the Flan city of Fleeth on Oerth.” Trained by his mother in the art of magic, Vecna vowed revenge after his mother was executed for practicing witchcraft. In the name of vengeance, Vecna turned to the dark arts, mastering them more than anyone had before.
Be warned, possible SPOILERS for Stranger Things Season 4 to follow as we delve into rumor and speculation. Alongside the reveal of the name Vecna, there have since been several emerging theories that this monster is really One. As in, the first super-powered experiment to Eleven’s number 11. Based on Vecna’s Dungeons & Dragons backstory, a lot of the pieces certainly seem to fit together.
Beginning life as a human and mastering their superpowers before being betrayed by the government and turning to the darkness of the Upside Down in a quest for revenge sounds like exactly the journey that One could have been on. Should this turn out to be true, it could provide Stranger Things Season 4 with the most complex villain yet, as well as offering a completely different perspective on the Upside Down.
Vecna Will Take Inspiration from Pennywise, Pinhead & Freddie Krueger
In an interview with IGN, the Duffer Brothers provided a few more details regarding Vecna, including the horror icon inspiration and the practical effects that will bring the villain to life.
“Those were the monsters that really inspired us this season,” Ross said, comparing Vecna to Pennywise, Pinhead, and Freddy Krueger. “Something else we really wanted to do go back to Season 1 and actually do a monster that we could do mostly practically. What you’re seeing here is 90% practical [effects]. And Vecna, throughout the season, is 90% practical. We wanted a presence on the set that our actors could react to, whereas in Season 3, they were reacting to a beach ball. We wanted something there that we could actually film, and I just think that that makes this villain scarier and more real and tangible and we’re just really excited for people to see him this season.”
Stranger Things Season 4 picks up six months after the Battle of Starcourt. Struggling with the aftermath, our group of friends is separated for the first time – and navigating the complexities of high school hasn't made things any easier. In this most vulnerable time, a new and horrifying supernatural threat surfaces, presenting a gruesome mystery that, if solved, might finally put an end to the horrors of the Upside Down.
Stranger Things Season 4 will be released in two parts, with the first volume set to premiere on Netflix on May 27, 2022. The second volume will be released five weeks later on July 1, 2022. Alongside the latest big bad, the trailer is packed to the brim with other clues and talking points. Truly, May 7 can't get here fast enough.