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Steven Weintraub
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- Collider's Steve Weintraub talks with Jamie Campbell Bower for Stranger Things Season 5.
- Bower, who plays Vecna in the Netflix series, discusses his most challenging stunts, transforming into the villain, and the impact the show has had.
- Bower also discusses joining other franchises, like The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power, fan interactions, and more.
Now that Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) has succeeded in opening a portal, it's the final showdown between small-town Hawkins, Indiana, and the Upside Down in Stranger Things Season 5. In the two-part conclusion of the Duffer Brothers' hit Netflix series, the stakes have never been higher, and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), and the whole party will have to face these demons head-on.
Season 4 first introduced us to Bower's Vecna, who we learned was once Henry Creel, a young boy with powers exploited by Dr. Brenner (Matthew Modine) in the same way that Eleven was. It's discovered that this powerful entity has been behind all the horrific things coming through the gateway, and now, he's bent on destroying the world as we know it.
In an interview with Collider's Steve Weintraub, Bower shares the emotional impact of Stranger Things and fan interactions he's had since stepping into the role. He also shares his gratitude for being able to be a part of so many popular franchises, including his mysterious part in the upcoming season of Prime Video's The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power series, and teases other worlds he'd like to dip his toes into. Check out the full conversation in the video above or the transcript below.
Jamie Campbell Bower Is a Jack of All Franchises
"How badly do you want this?"
COLLIDER: You will not remember this, but I actually talked to you on the set of Mortal Instruments in 2012.
JAMIE CAMPBELL BOWER: Oh my gosh.
So we both landed on our feet.
BOWER: [Laughs] Yes. Here we are. Here we are!
When you were making that, that was a big gig for you. You know how hard it is to be an actor in Hollywood and to keep getting roles, and it's a mixture of talent and luck, so what has it been like for you over the last decade being able to keep working and now being in these really high-profile projects?
BOWER: I'm so grateful. I really, really am. I just feel so lucky to be able to be here. Yes, some of the things you said are right, but also, perseverance is true. There have definitely been times where my higher power has been like, “How badly do you want this?” And I've been like, “Really badly.” It's like, “Okay, cool. Wait it out.” And that's just how it goes. I just have creativity in me. And yes, I'm so grateful.
I’m curious, where and when did you read the series finale script, and what was that like?
BOWER: So fittingly, I've spoken a lot to people at work about this idea of loneliness and isolation with Vecna. My series finale reading was done in my apartment in Atlanta because I had COVID. Whilst everybody else was at work in the studio, reading it all together in tears, I was stuck behind the screen. Now I'm like, “That feels right. That's appropriate.” So yeah, that was where I got to read it.
And how did I feel? Delirious, I think. But also, it was such a beautiful experience to watch everyone share in something so hyper-emotional that means so much to them. I remember Matt and Ross [Duffer] just stuck their head around my screen at the end, and I just went, “Guys, thank you so much for changing so many people's lives.”
It's amazing. I can't wait to see it.
Jamie Campbell Bower Is Ready to Dip His Toes In New Universes
The actor shares a few of his favorite things with us.
Jamie Campbell Bower on the red carpet for Stranger Things Season 5.Image via Netflix
What's been your most unusual fan interaction?
BOWER: Ever? I was once sent a wheel of cheese to a hotel I was staying at, which really freaked me out. That one still.
Did you eat the cheese?
BOWER: No.
Yeah. I was going to say I don't think I would eat food sent to me.
BOWER: No way. Not happening. No way.
Speaking of food, I'm asking this of everyone: do you have a favorite food?
BOWER: Yes, I do. It's probably sushi.
Okay, well, if you get sushi sent to your hotel in the future.
BOWER: It's you?
[Laughs] No, it’s a fan that watched this.
BOWER: [Laughs] Oh, shit. I forgot we were in an interview.
This will eventually be seen.
BOWER: That’s so funny.
Do you have a favorite movie quote?
BOWER: I mean, Anchorman was such a huge film for quotes, wasn't it, growing up?
Is there one from that film that you always remember?
BOWER: “San Diego.” [Laughs] And then I'll stop there. You have to watch the film. “Which of course means…” Yeah.
If you could be in any movie franchise, TV show, dream kind of thing, besides Rings of Power, is there something that you would love to be in?
BOWER: It's a really interesting question. There are certain universes that I think I'd love to dip my toe into. There you go.
Vecna Never Left Jamie Campbell Bower
"I finally get to hand this over."
Henry Creel turning into Vecna in Stranger Things Season 4, Episode 9.Image via Netflix
With Vecna, with the makeup and everything that goes into this, what is it like in those weeks before you're going to start filming in terms of mentally getting ready for what you're going to go through as an actor? Because it's not just the performance, it's everything.
BOWER: It's funny, I've spoken quite a lot about this, and actually, it's not just the weeks before it. I retained it from the end of Season 4. The thought would always come up. It would always be there. It was always something that was percolating in the back of the mind — the continuation of the character, who the character was, where he is. So, it wasn't a question of me forgetting it and then looking at my calendar and going, “Oh, in two weeks’ time I'm going to be back doing Vecna again.” It was that thing of, “Okay, two weeks’ time, I get to do this again. I finally get to hand this over.” So the preparation was more just retention, if anything.
What shot or sequence has been the toughest to pull off during your time on the show?
BOWER: There are a couple of moments in [Season] 5 that were quite either logistically or physically challenging, or emotionally challenging. One that I can talk about from [Season] 4 is when you see Vecna hanging in the attic. I believe we shot that on our last day, and for some reason, I wouldn't stop swaying and swinging from side to side. We kept watching the monitor, going, “Why am I swinging like that?” I'm just meant to be still, and I'm not doing anything. So eventually we ended up having to put more tie lines on me than perhaps we needed to. So eventually, I did just end up looking like I had a bunch of vines coming from me. But that was one of those moments where you’re like, “How do we fix this? This is looking weird.” So yeah, that was quite challenging because, also, I'm stuck up there for a long period of time in a harness. I love wirework. It’s one of my favorite things to do, but I will tell you this: wildly uncomfortable.
Close-up of Vecna in the Upside Down in Season 4 of Stranger Things.Image via Netflix
I've heard this from many actors. I'm a big fan of Rings of Power, and you are joining it as, I think, a main character in Season 3. What can you tease about the experience so far?
BOWER: I've had the most amazing time. I joined that show because it felt like love. The pervasive feeling that I have had whilst doing it has been love.
Do you want to say if you're playing an elf?
BOWER: I don't want to say anything at all!
There are a lot of rumors that you could be an elven character. If Vecna could have a pet, what pet would Vecna have?
BOWER: A salamander. A fire salamander.
Related
First ‘Rings of Power’ Season 3 Sneak Peek Reveals One of the Most Powerful Weapons in the Entire Franchise
Season 3 of The Lord of the Rings prequel series began filming earlier this summer.
Posts By Adam Blevins Sep 10, 2025Jamie Campbell Bower on 'Stranger Things' Impact
"It could have been anyone, but it was me."
Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin, Finn Wolfhard as Mike, Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas, and Noah Schnapp as Will are hands in on 'Stranger Things' Season 5.Image via Netflix
One of the things about a show like this is that it means so much to so many people, and you've done a bunch of comic cons or fan expos, stuff like that. What has it been like actually meeting fans and the emotional bond they have with this universe?
BOWER: It's been amazing. One of the things I take really great pleasure in hearing is how the show brings families together and brings people together. I often get to meet families, and the dad or the mom will be like, “Oh, this is the show that we sit down and we watch as a group,” and that is so beautiful because I had those shows growing up. We all did, I think. And to hear those stories is so powerful. As I'm talking about this, there are also emotional stories that I get to hear within that, too. So, to just know that this is a show that so many people can relate to, or that so many people love, or that brings people together, is always a blessing. Because, as I've said to a lot of people, it could have been anyone, but it was me who got to be in this show, and for that I'm so thankful.
Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 premieres on Netflix on November 26.
Stranger Things
Like TV-14 Drama Mystery Horror Science Fiction Release Date 2016 - 2025-00-00 Network Netflix Showrunner Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer Directors Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz Writers Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
7 Images
Eleven looking into an opening of the Upside Down with pink light in Stranger Things season 1
Jim Hopper (David Harbour) grabbing Jonathan's (Charlie Heaton) shoulders in Stranger Things season 1©Netflix/Courtesy Everett Collection
Eleven with cables all over her head in Stranger Things season 4
Vecna looking towards Will in the trailer for Stranger Things season 5 (2025)
Max and Eleven in Stranger ThingsNetflix
Stranger Things season 2, episode 2 "Trick or Treat, Freak".MovieStillsDB
The Upside Down in Stranger Things season 5Courtesy of Netflix Close
Cast
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Millie Bobby Brown
Jane 'Eleven' Hopper
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Mike Wheeler
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