Stranger Things 3: Does Star Wars hold the key to (spoiler)’s fate?

The Duffer Brothers hinted that they wanted to give Hopper a Han Solo-like “sacrifice” from Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back in Stranger Things 3. Did they just confirm he is alive?

Spoilers for Stranger Things 3 ahead! 

Does a Star Wars storyline hold the key to Hopper’s fate in Stranger Things? 

According to a report from the Independent, Star Wars could play a major role in discovering what happens to Chief Hopper in the Stranger Things 3 finale and what it could mean for Stranger Things 4.

The report cites the Behind the Scenes: Stranger Things 3 podcast, which features and interview with the Duffer Brothers. In the podcast, Matt Duffer talks about Hopper’s final act in Stranger Things 3, via Entertainment Weekly:

"“We always talk about Empire Strikes Back – we always wanted to give him a darker ending, we always wanted to give him a Han Solo sacrifice moment.”"

For those unaware, (SPOILERS FOR STAR WARS) Han Solo is frozen in carbonite after Lando turns Han and the gang over to Darth Vader. It’s a really long story as to why George Lucas and the writers chose that fate for Solo, but all in all, he is used as the guinea pig of sorts for what Vader plans to do to Luke should he catch him at the end of Empire.

The key thing about this storyline is that Solo does not die being frozen in the carbonite. In fact, he lives and is rescued from Jabba the Hut and the Sarlacc in The Return of the Jedi by Luke, Chewie and Laia.

I might be reading too much into what the Duffer Brothers are saying, but this seems pretty clear to me. They are setting up for Hopper to be rescued in Stranger Things 4 after a Han Solo-like sacrifice at the end of the season. That could mean that Hopper is “the American” at the end of Stranger Things 3.

It could also mean a few more things. Maybe there are worse things to get taken captive by than the Russians? Who knows?

Interestingly enough, the Independent report points out that minutes after Hopper is “killed,” we see Steve Harrington reference The Return of the Jedi in the movie store while applying for a job. He doesn’t know the name of the movie, of course, but he’s seen it and he likes it, especially the little teddy bear things.

Look, it’s hard not to read into all these things. The Duffer Brothers have already stated that they want to encourage discussion after the season, and that’s what is happening now. Stranger Things 3 came out nearly a month ago, but we’re still talking about the end and what it means for the future of the series.

I don’t know the Duffer Brothers are admitting that Hopper is still alive, but it certainly feels like it. We need no rocket scientists to start to put together all the evidence. Like telling a story, I hope this is a fun game that they’re playing by leaving all these bread crumbs in their wake after the season. It’s fun for fans to speculate about what will happen, and if that was their goal, mission accomplished!

I don’t know exactly what to make of this, but with the other evidence we have that Hopper is still alive, it’s hard not to assume that he is, in fact, alive.

We’ll find out more information shortly. According to reports, Stranger Things 4 starts filming this fall, and they won’t be able to keep David Harbour’s appearance, or lack thereof, much longer.

Stay tuned for more information!