Stranger Things season 2 costumes may have already teased what the future holds for its main characters

Max, Lucas, Mike, Will, and Dustin in Stranger Things season 2
(Image credit: Netflix)

With filming on Stranger Things' fifth and final season not due to start until January 2024, we still have a long wait ahead of us until a new batch of episodes lands on Netflix. With that, fans everywhere are trying to uncover any info online that might give them some idea as to what's in store for Will, Mike, Eleven, and co – and it turns out an unlikely one has been hiding in plain sight for years...

Thanks to Reddit, a Stranger Things' centered Twitter account, and a resurfaced 'fact of the day', we've been reminded that the sci-fi fantasy's costume designer Kim Wilcox once explained that the outfits some of the main boys wore to Hawkins' Middle School's Snow Ball dance in season 2 "is a clue to their future careers". 

"I wonder if that means they're gonna end the show with the kids as full grown adults and show us what they're up to later in life or something," someone on the Reddit post replied, as another speculated: "That is to say, they all survive and we get to see a '20 years later' scene or [something] at the end?"

Elsewhere, fans tried to guess which jobs the youngsters would go on to have by the 'fits in the scene, with many suggesting that Mike would be a doctor, Lucas could wind up being a businessman or finance guy, and Will would be a teacher. 

Dustin's funkier look had people stumped, though, with suggestions as widespread as DJ, wedding singer (due to its likeness to Adam Sandler's get up in 1998's The Wedding Singer), and hairdresser.

Stranger Things 1-4 are streaming now on Netflix. While we wait for more updates on season 5, check out our list of the best Netflix shows or our breakdown of all the cool new TV shows coming our way in 2023 and beyond.

Amy West

I am an Entertainment Writer here at GamesRadar+, covering all things TV and film across our Total Film and SFX sections. Elsewhere, my words have been published by the likes of Digital Spy, SciFiNow, PinkNews, FANDOM, Radio Times, and Total Film magazine.

Read more
Mike, Eleven and Will in Stranger Things season 4 (2022)
Stranger Things season 5: Everything we know so far about the Netflix show's final chapter
A group of kids gathered around a table during the Netflix show Stranger Things.
Stranger Things star recalls reading the final episode with his cast mates for the very first time: "[It] was much more emotional than I thought it was going to be"
Stranger Things season 5 set photo
Stranger Things creators Duffer Brothers reveal they filmed over 650 hours of footage for the final season of the Netflix hit, as behind-the-scenes teaser is shown behind closed doors
Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 finale
Stranger Things season 5 was a "Lord of the Rings-style" epic to film according to star: "I feel like it couldn’t have ended better"
Stranger Things season 4, volume 2 finale
Stranger Things season 5 wraps as the cast say goodbye to the Netflix show with the cutest behind-the-scenes snaps
Eleven holding out her hand in Stranger Things
Stranger Things season 5 releasing in 2025 might not be a certainty as its creators admit that target is "quite the push"
Latest in Sci-Fi Shows
Alien Earth teaser
New Alien: Earth teaser introduces us to new cast members and the cutest little cat – and if a Xenomorph eats it, I will be furious
The Last of Us
The Last of Us season 2 is giving a game character the Bill and Frank treatment – and he's so deep-cut you might barely remember him
The Last of Us season 2 first look
Pedro Pascal says "beautiful" scene that made him want to join The Last of Us got cut, but it’ll thankfully appear in season 2: "He was like, ‘That’s half the reason I’m here!’"
Diego Luna in Andor
It looks like a key Star Wars event mentioned in Rebels will be shown in Andor season 2
Ncuti Gatwa in Doctor Who season 2
Doctor Who fans think they've spotted a tease for surprise villains in new season 2 trailer
The Xenomorph in Alien: Earth
New look at Alien: Earth has fans theorizing over whether they can hear a Predator in the background
Latest in News
The Blood of Dawnwalker: A screenshot of the vampire Brencis holding up a crown during the trailer for the upcoming game.
The Witcher 3 devs created a Jekyll & Hyde-style character for their new vampire RPG "because nobody yet has done that"
Charlie Cox as Matt Murdock in Daredevil: Born Again
Daredevil fans are wondering if Born Again season 2 will set up a darker comic book arc for Matt Murdock
Theo James as Hal in Osgood Perkins' The Monkey
It might only be March, but Stephen King adaptation The Monkey is now the highest grossing horror movie of 2025
Balatro screenshot showing an assortment of card packs
Balatro creator initially considered a Steam release in part to help "get a game developer job somewhere," and after 5 million sales I'd say he found one
Cyborg and Batman together
Justice League stars Ray Fisher and Ben Affleck are teaming up for new thriller Animals
InZOI screenshot
The Sims rival InZoi has 300 people hanging out in each of its in-game cities and they all "interact with each other in real-time"