How many episodes will the final season of Stranger Things have?

After the epic and emotionally-devastating fourth season, fans are (un)patiently awaiting the release of the Stranger Things’ fifth and final season.

However, despite the feature-length episodes from the latest season, the Duffer Brothers have said they plan for the final season to be a return to the simplicity of the first, with shorter episodes and perhaps only eight of them.

In an interview with Collider, the Duffer Brothers said, "We thought season four was going to be eight [episodes], and they were going to be regular length.

"So if you had interviewed us before four, that's what I would've said.

'I think we're aiming for eight again. We don't want it to be 13 hours.

"We're aiming for more like 10 hours or something.

"I think it's going to be longer than season one because we just have so much to wrap up, but I don't think it's going to be as long as season four."

The Duffer Brothers continued, saying: "This season, for instance, it was two hours before our characters even realised the monster was killing people in Hawkins. They know what the threat is now, and so that will help speed it up."

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"It’s gonna be moving – I don’t know if it’s gonna be going 100 miles an hour at the start of five – but it’s gonna be moving pretty fast," the Duffers teased on the Happy Sad Confused podcast.

"Characters are already going to be in action, they’re already gonna have a goal and a drive."

Speaking to NME, Matt Duffer added: "Typically in the previous seasons, everything wraps up in a nice bow. Four and five are really [connected] together.

"[With five], there’ll be no wind-up time – like even this season, you get to experience the kids and what they’re going through in high school before things start to escalate.

"Then it gets crazier and crazier and crazier – that’s typically the trajectory. Five, you’re just going to be right in the middle of it so it’s going to feel very, very different."

In true Stranger Things fashion, however, the Duffer Brothers have promised a 'pretty massive' series finale, saying the final episode of season five will last 'at least two hours', but not as long as the final episode of season four.

While we don’t know much about the plot details leading up to this likely generation-defining finale, the Duffers have said, in another interview with Collider, that 'Will's going to be a big part and focus'.

"We're starting to see his coming of age, really. Which has been challenging for a number of reasons, some of which are supernatural. But you're starting to see him come into his own," he said.

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Ross Duffer added: "[It's] setting up us coming full circle back to season one. I think you'll see that with a couple of the character arcs, not just with Will.

"But also with Steve and Nancy, and her relationship with Jonathan where things are not fully resolved.

"The characters have maybe made steps, like in the case of Will, but that journey isn't over yet. All of that is going to play a huge role as we try to wrap this thing up next season."

And after the global storylines of the fourth season, with the plot spanning Indiana, California, Nevada and Russia, the Duffer Brothers have confirmed that 'everyone is gonna be back in Hawkins', for the final season.

They'll join forces one last time to put an end to Vecna and the Upside Down once and for all.