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One Former ‘Stranger Things’ Star Believes His Character Could Return from the Dead

In the Stranger Things universe, death is not always permanent. In the second volume of the fourth season, we saw Sadie Sink’s character seemingly die. But later on in the season, we found out that she was still alive–though it wasn’t originally supposed to be that way. Now that this precedent has been set, another actor behind a character killed off this season has a theory about how his character could come back for the fifth and final installment of the show.

Matthew Modine, who plays Dr. Martin Brenner (a.k.a. Papa) on the show, has come up with a possible explanation for his return that we are all interested in hearing. (Sorry, Eddiehive.) ICYMI: Papa died in episode 8 of Stranger Things 4 after getting shot by a sniper while trying to save Millie Bobby Brown’s Eleven.

matthew modine
Courtesy of Netflix

In a new interview with Vulture, Modine admitted he “wouldn’t want” Papa to be dead and explained his reasoning, suggesting his character might have some sort of evil superpowers. “Three things are curious to me: How did he survive the Demogorgon [in season 1]? How did he survive One? And when Eleven tries to use her power against Dr. Brenner after blowing three guards in the air, he unflinchingly thwarts her and says, ‘You didn’t think it was going to be that easy, did you?’ She couldn’t get it to work on him. Is there something more to Brenner than meets the eye?”

“I don’t want to believe it’s over, because I love the Duffers. I don’t want to believe it’s over, because I can’t wait to work with Millie again. I say Millie, because I don’t really have anything to do with the other cast members—except for Paul Reiser [Dr. Sam Owens],” Modine added in his interview, manifesting a redemption arc for Papa. “Obviously, the only children he tortured who are alive, that we know of, are Eleven and Kali. I guess Vecna, if there’s any saving One. It would be that moment of them forgiving Brenner and giving him their grace.”

Although Modine is hopeful about Papa’s return, the Duffer Bros seem to be thinking differently. The brothers recently said that Papa is “definitively” dead and this time they mean it.

In the Stranger Things universe, never say never.

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