Three new characters have been announced for the second series of Stanger Things.

Sean Astin (pictured), who appeared in The Goonies and the Lord Of The Rings trilogy and Paul Reiser who starred as Burke in Aliens and more recently appeared in Whiplash, have both joined the cast of the sci-fi drama.

Danish actress Linnea Berthelsen will also star in the second series.


Astin will play Bob Newby, “a kindhearted former nerd who went to high school with Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) and now manages the local Hawkins RadioShack” while Reiser will take up the more sinister role of “a high-ranking member within the Department of Energy on a clean-up assignment, tasked with containing the events of last year,” according to Entertainment Weekly.

Berthelsen has been cast as Roman, “an emotionally damaged, magnetic young woman” who suffered a great loss as a child. Although she does not live in Hawkins, she is mysteriously connected to the supernatural events at the lab.

Read more: Stranger Things Season 2: Release Dates, Cast, Trailers and Everything You Need To Know

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They join previously announced Australian actor Dacre Montgomery, soon to be seen in the Power Rangers reboot movie, who will play Max’s older step-brother, Billy. His character is said to be “a classic girlfriend-stealing bad boy” and child actress Sadie Sink – who has previously guested in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmit – will play Max, who is described as “a tomboy with a complicated history and a suspicious streak”.


Season Two will feature nine episodes, one more than the first, launching on Netflix at a date in 2017 which has yet to be announced.

In addition, two of season one’s recurring characters, Joe Keery’s Steve and Noah Schnapp’s Will Byers, have been upgraded to series regulars for Season Two.

“We’ll be doing more than just a rehash of season one,” the show’s executive producer Dan Cohen said recently. “We’re coming back with a few new characters, expanding storylines and mythologies, so it’ll feel like the stakes are raised and more is going on and really delivering on the promise and pushing for more.”