The new season is darker and more action-packed, introducing audiences to a new villain named Vecna who brings the horror in Hawkins, Indiana, to a whole new level. Who exactly is this terrifying new antagonist, and what does he want?
Who is Vecna in Stranger Things Season 4?
Although most of the characters and storylines of Stranger Things carry over from season to season, Vecna is a completely new addition to the story. So far, not much is known about him, except that he lives in the Upside Down (for now), and he’s very bad. Speaking with IGN, Matt and Ross Duffer explained that they were influenced by famous horror figures like Pennywise (of Stephen King’s It) and Freddy Krueger (of A Nightmare on Elm Street) when creating Vecna, so expect someone menacing and evil. To make him even scarier, the brothers worked hard to make Vecna with mainly practical effects. “We wanted something there that we could actually film,” they said. “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.”
Who is Vecna in Dungeons & Dragons?
The name “Vecna” might sound familiar to people who play Dungeons & Dragons. The classic RPG plays a big role in Stranger Things, with various creatures from the Upside Down being named after Dungeons & Dragons figures, like the Mind Flayer. According to the official Dungeons & Dragons site, the lore states that Vecna is a lich—or an evil, undead sorcerer. There are also two important artifacts in the game, the Eye of Vecna and the Hand of Vecna, that give great power to whatever adventurer dares to utilize them. Considering the Vecna in Stranger Things looks like a powerful, undead man-creature, the visual influence from the RPG is obvious, but it’s yet to be seen if the villain will share any story traits with the Dungeons & Dragons character.
Who plays Vecna in Stranger Things?
As of right now, there is no word on what actor actually portrays Vecna, though fans have some theories.
Is Vecna in Stranger Things actually Billy?
In Season 3 of Stranger Things, Billy Hargrove (Dacre Montgomery) becomes possessed by the Mind Flayer as it attempts to take over Hawkins. With the help of the rest of the main characters, Billy manages to take back control long enough to sacrifice himself to save everyone. Still, with a show as crazy as Stranger Things, Billy could very easily come back somehow, and there are signs hinting at an appearance in Season 4. Could Vecna actually be Billy? Nothing has been confirmed, but Montgomery is listed as appearing in the sixth episode of the season, “The Dive,” on IMDb, and another episode is titled “Dear Billy.” The biggest hint that Vecna might actually be Billy is one of Montgomery’s Instagram posts, in which he is lying down and getting prosthetics put on him, though it’s difficult to see what they are. As of writing, Montgomery shared the post 19 weeks ago, with the caption, “coming soon.”
Where does Vecna in Stranger Things come from?
In Season 4 of Stranger Things, it looks like Vecna resides in the Upside Down, but he might not have always been there. Based on comments from the crew on the show during a virtual press presentation from June 2021 (via Entertainment Weekly), it appears that Vecna is connected to a new location in Season 4 called the Creel House. The haunted house is empty and forgotten in the present timeline, but a flashback clip released by Netflix last September reveals that there used to be a small family that lived there in the 1950s—and let’s just say it didn’t end well for them. The Creel House’s history is closely tied to Hawkins’ many mysteries. Add to that the fact that the new character Victor Creel is played by Krueger himself, Robert Englund, and the likelihood that the Creel House is connected to Vecna seems almost certain.
What does Vecna Want?
This is the ultimate question. Netflix and the Duffer Brothers haven’t given many hints as to what Vecna’s goals are, but it’s safe to say that they (probably) aren’t good. Next, check out everything to know about Stranger Things’ final season.
