Stranger Things Season 4: Every Character Still Missing From The Trailers

Here are all the major characters absent from Stranger Things‘ trailers, and what we know of their whereabouts in season 4. The Stranger Things cast are promising big things from Netflix’s upcoming fourth season of 1980s throwback madness, but precisely what delights the Duffer brothers have in store remains a mystery. Stranger Things season 4’s promo material has featured a Russian setting, a return to Hawkins’ lab, and a short trailer teasing exciting new characters and developments. Even so, it’s still impossible to discern what paranormal threat the (now visibly older) gang are facing.

Stranger Things‘ latest promo piece dropped during Netflix’s recent TUDUM event. An extended version of the Creel House shots from season 4’s earlier trailer, Lucas, Dustin, Steve, Robin, Nancy and Max enter Creel’s abandoned abode, skulking around for clues. The only thing missing is a talking Great Dane. In the attic, an ornate grandfather clock cracks and unleashes the familiar aura of Stranger Things‘ Upside Down, confirming a connection between the Creel case and the Hawkins’ portal. In a 1950s flashback, the Creel family arrive at their new home, only for the father (a younger version of Robert Englund’s Victor, most likely) to brutally murder the others.

Curiously, the Stranger Things TUDUM footage leaves many of the show’s usual suspects unaccounted for. Some of these have been glimpsed in previous promos, while others haven’t been present at all. These are the characters conspicuous by their absence from the Creel House investigation, and where they could be.

Will Byers

Noah Schnapp’s Will Byers hasn’t appeared (explicitly, at least) in any of the Stranger Things season 4 marketing material thus far. Like Eleven, he moved out of Hawkins following season 3’s events, which accounts for his absence at Creel House alongside old pals Lucas and Dustin. The trailer released back in August did depict a shadowy figure with their back to camera watching a car burn by the roadside. Judging from the outline and hair, the character could certainly be Will, but that’s as much as we’ve seen of Schnapp in Stranger Things‘ season 4 promos.

Will’s continued absence exacerbates a problem many viewers cited with Stranger Things season 3 – sidelining Will. After being the “weird Upside Down kid” throughout seasons 1 and 2, Will wasn’t properly developed as a main protagonist, remaining a passenger in the story he started by going missing in the very first episode. All indications suggest Stranger Things won’t be any kinder to Will in season 4.

Joyce Byers

Taking Eleven, Jonathan and Will, Joyce moved out of Hawkins for a quiet life, so it’s unsurprising that we don’t see Winona Ryder in any trailer footage, including the TUDUM exclusive clip. Nevertheless, Joyce has 2 important roles in Stranger Things season 4. No Christmas light or magnet will be safe when Joyce discovers Eleven has been captured, and she’ll fight for her adopted daughter’s safety just as hard as she fought for Will’s. Joyce also finds herself at the center of Hopper’s journey in Stranger Things season 4. When the missing cop eventually makes his way back home, the emotional reunion with Eleven and Joyce should be worth the wait.

Amusingly, some Stranger Things fans initially mistook Millie Bobby Brown for Winona Ryder in August’s trailer. Eleven’s new mom has cut her daughter’s hair in the same style, and Brown herself is now 17-years-old, creating a resemblance that wasn’t there before.

Jonathan Byers

The final member of the Byers clan missing from Stranger Things‘ season 4 marketing is Jonathan, played by Charlie Heaton. Searching Creel House is exactly the kind of opportunity for mischief Jonathan would’ve jumped at in previous seasons, and it’s odd seeing Nancy investigate without him.

Jonathan’s role in the upcoming season is less clear-cut than the rest of the Byers’ family. Stranger Things might be teasing a reunion between Nancy and Steve Harrington, as the former couple rekindle past feelings through the dimly lit corridors of Creel’s spooky mansion. Alternatively, Jonathan might’ve transitioned into adult life, getting a place of his own safely away from the crazy antics of his younger brother.

Mike Wheeler

The Byers family leaving Hawkins at the end of Stranger Things season 3 explains why season 4’s promotional footage is so light on Eleven, Will, Joyce and Jonathan… but what’s Mike’s excuse? Though he stayed behind, Mike isn’t seen breaking into Creel House with his best friends and sister, nor is he riding bikes with them in the previous trailer. Mike’s situation can possibly be attributed to actor, Finn Wolfhard, starring in the upcoming Ghostbusters: Afterlife movie. The Hollywood gig might mean a reduced role for Mike in season 4, though how Stranger Things writes him out remains to be seen.

Maybe it’s Mike who mysteriously vanishes this season, prompting his friends and family to go searching. Mike’s disappearance might even be connected to Victor Creel, explaining why the Stranger Things gang are clue-hunting at Creel House. Or maybe he spends the season sulking in his room because Eleven left.

Karen Wheeler

Karen Wheeler has evolved into a key supporting character across 3 seasons of Stranger Things but, as Mike and Nancy’s mom, she’s limited to a background presence. Consequently, it’s no great surprise that Karen isn’t anywhere to be found in Stranger Things‘ season 4 promos – especially since there aren’t any muscular young men to flirt with. Rest assured, Cara Buono will continue to develop in Stranger Things‘ coming season, perhaps learning more about the lethal misadventures her children are getting up to. And if Karen’s unhappy with that, she can take her complaint up with the manager.

Older Victor Creel

The latest Stranger Things clip reveals the Creel family moving into their new house in the 1950s, looking forward to the next chapter of their lives together. As anyone who has ever watched a horror movie will know, that happiness is short-lived. Victor murders his wife and children, supposedly under some kind of demonic influence. The older Victor Creel will be played by The Nightmare on Elm Street star Robert Englund, but we’re yet to see the present-day version of the character in season 4 promo footage.

Perhaps Victor Creel is still alive in jail, and the protagonists visit him to figure out exactly how the gruesome murders happened. Maybe Englund’s killer is still running amok in Stranger Things season 4, and has been assigned main villain duties for the coming run? Either way, Netflix is keeping his presence hidden.

Murray Bauman

Hawkins’ favorite conspiracy theorist will inevitably return to lend his curious way of thinking in Stranger Things season 4. No doubt Murray has his own ideas surrounding the Creel murders case. Even so, Brett Gelman’s character hasn’t been spotted in any marketing clips or trailers. He’s the guy everyone turns to when they need information, but still doesn’t get invited to the party.

Dr. Brenner

Matthew Modine returns as the evil Dr. Brenner in Stranger Things season 4, and the character was shown lurking around a lab full of psychic children in the second teaser clip. Unfortunately, Brenner hasn’t been glimpsed in any other capacity, and it’s difficult to say whether his role comes purely through flashback scenes, or whether Modine makes a full comeback in the present day. Should those time travel rumors prove true, it won’t matter either way.

Missing New Characters In Stranger Things Season 4

A trio of fresh faces join the cast regulars for Stranger Things season 4 – Jamie Campbell Bower as Peter Ballard, Eduardo Franco as Argyle, and Joseph Quinn as Eddie Munson. Also expected is Joel Stoffer, of Agents of SHIELD fame, as Warden Hatch (at Creel’s prison, perhaps?) None of the above have been revealed as of yet, although the August Stranger Things trailer did include a brief shot of Grace Van Dien as Chrissy the cheerleader.

About The Author

Craig Elvy
(3660 Articles Published)

Craig first began contributing to Screen Rant in 2016, several years after graduating college, and has been ranting ever since, mostly to himself in a darkened room. Having previously written for various sports and music outlets, Craig’s interest soon turned to TV and film, where a steady upbringing of science fiction and comic books finally came into its own.
Craig has previously been published on sites such as Den of Geek, and after many coffee-drenched hours hunched over a laptop, part-time evening work eventually turned into a full-time career covering everything from the zombie apocalypse to the Starship Enterprise via the TARDIS.

Since joining the Screen Rant fold, Craig has been involved in breaking news stories and mildly controversial ranking lists, but now works predominantly as a features writer.
Jim Carrey is Craig’s top acting pick and favorite topics include superheroes, anime and the unrecognized genius of the High School Musical trilogy.

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