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Even months after Stranger Things came to an end, many fans are still refusing to believe the story is over. One of the biggest fan theories claimed that Netflix secretly filmed a ninth episode of the final season and planned to release it later as a surprise. Now, Jamie Campbell Bower, who played the terrifying villain Vecna, has finally addressed the rumour and made it clear that there is no hidden episode waiting to be released. Speaking during Entertainment Weekly’s studio interviews at San Diego Comic Con 2026, Bower laughed about the theory and admitted he still gets asked the same question by fans everywhere he goes.

Without even thinking, Bower called the so called “Conformity Gate” theory the wildest fan theory he has heard since the series ended. The online theory suggested that the emotional final episode was not actually the real ending. Instead, some viewers believed everything that happened was an illusion created by Vecna and that Netflix would later surprise fans with a secret ninth episode that would reveal the truth. Bower quickly dismissed the idea, joking that if another episode really existed, he certainly was not part of it because he had already finished filming everything he was supposed to shoot. He even joked that if Netflix was still planning to release another episode after all this time, they were running very late.

The actor said it was fascinating to watch the theory spread across social media. According to him, fans found proof in almost everything the cast did. Every interview, public appearance, or social media post was treated as evidence that another episode was coming. Bower explained that once people strongly believed the theory, they interpreted every small detail as confirmation that it was true. Even today, six months after the show’s finale, fans continue asking him if Episode 9 is still on the way. His answer, however, has remained the same. The series has ended, and there are no secret episodes waiting to be released.

Netflix also tried to end the speculation when it updated the official Stranger Things Instagram account with a message stating that all episodes of the series were now available to watch. Despite that clear statement, many fans continued believing that the streaming platform was hiding one final surprise. Another cast member, Caleb McLaughlin, who played Lucas Sinclair throughout all five seasons, also reacted to the theory earlier this year. He admitted that he initially thought the idea was unrealistic because the cast had spent ten years making the show and had now moved on. However, he later understood why fans found it difficult to let go. McLaughlin said the series always gave viewers hope and optimism, so many people simply wanted the adventure to continue. While fans may still dream of another chapter, both the cast and Netflix have made it clear that Stranger Things has officially reached its final ending.