As Stranger Things enters its final chapter, fans are not only emotional about the show ending but also deeply curious about the real-life friendships within the cast. Over the years, viewers have seen the young actors grow from kids to adults, and their off-screen chemistry has always been a big talking point. At the Season 5 premiere in Los Angeles, Gaten Matarazzo — known for playing the lovable and brave Dustin Henderson — opened up about the cast members he stays closest to and how their group chats are full of memes, voice notes, and constant laughter.
Gaten’s Most Frequent Text Buddies
According to the 23-year-old actor, two people he speaks to nonstop are Finn Wolfhard and Caleb McLaughlin.
“I’m texting Finny and Caleb a ton all the time,” Matarazzo shared on the red carpet.
He explained that both actors love sharing funny memes and silly messages, and they often exchange voice memos that are just as entertaining as their on-screen banter. Their long-standing friendship makes sense — the trio has been acting together since Stranger Things began in 2015, and they’ve practically grown up side by side.
Living With Finn Wolfhard: Like College, But Messier
Gaten also recently opened up about what it was like living with Finn Wolfhard while filming Season 5. During his guest appearance on the podcast Dinner’s on Me with Jesse Tyler Ferguson, he described the experience as fun, chaotic, and similar to living in a college dorm.
“It was great. It was kind of like a college experience,” he said. But with that experience came the classic roommate struggle: keeping their apartment clean.
After a few months, both actors realized their shared living space was far from tidy. Gaten joked about looking around and thinking:
“This place is disgusting. What are we doing?”
When the host asked who was messier, Gaten admitted that both actors were equally responsible. They had known each other for so long that neither enforced chores or cleanliness rules. Instead, they let things slide with a casual:
“Ah, f— it. Whatever, man. We’ll get to it later.”
What the Final Season Table Read Felt Like
With Stranger Things Season 5 set to conclude one of the biggest sci-fi stories of the decade, Gaten reflected on what it felt like to participate in the table read.
“That was December 2023,” he recalled. “Everyone was so excited about it. It was unreal.”
The cast didn’t read the whole season at once. Instead, they started with the first few episodes, and the remaining scripts were shared gradually over time. The emotional weight of the moment wasn’t lost on anyone — they were stepping into the final leg of a journey that shaped their entire careers.
Last Day on Set: A Bittersweet ‘Graduation’
Gaten described the final day of shooting Stranger Things as feeling like a graduation ceremony. The cast and crew celebrated the end of an incredible era while also processing the sadness of saying goodbye.
He said that being part of the series has been:
“The most incredible experience [I] could ever ask for.”
Even after becoming a part of other film and TV projects, Matarazzo insists that Stranger Things will always hold a special place in his heart.
How Stranger Things Changed Gaten’s Life Forever
Looking back, Gaten says the show isn’t just a job — it changed his life and opened countless doors for him and his family. He expressed deep gratitude for every opportunity that came from being part of such a massive global phenomenon.
“If it’s the only thing I do, I’m just proud to do it,” he said.
His message to fans and supporters is simple: he wants to share the love, appreciation, and joy he feels for the journey he has been a part of for nearly a decade.
Season 5 Release Schedule: What Fans Should Know
The final season of Stranger Things is divided into two volumes:
- Volume 1: Now streaming on Netflix
- Volume 2: Releases on December 25
- Series Finale: Drops on December 31
With these final episodes, the series promises emotional closure, intense action, and answers to mysteries fans have been waiting years to uncover.
