Stranger Things legend has already moved onto unexpected project following divisive season 5 finale
Proving that there's life after Stranger Things, one of the show's biggest names has already moved on to their next project. We've spent a decade watching the young cast of Millie Bobby Brown and co. grow into adults, with the various members of 'The Party' proving they can escape the child actor's curse.
In particular, Brown has already had a lucrative career in everything from the Godzilla movies to the Enola Holmes series outside of Stranger Things. Netflix has just shut down those Conformity Gate theories by revealing its cryptic #whatnext tease was relating to 2026's upcoming lineup, including Enola Holmes 3.
Elsewhere, Sadie Sink is about to join the Marvel Cinematic Universe for Spider-Man: Brand New Day, and Finn Wolfhard has teased a return to the It universe for HBO's Welcome to Derry. Stranger Things was also packed with acclaimed performances from Hollywood alumni like Full Metal Jacket's Matthew Modine, Terminator's Linda Hamilton, and Aliens' Paul Reiser. As another nod to the '80s, it just wouldn't be Stranger Things without Winona Ryder’s electric performance as Joyce Byers. The series has been praised for breathing new life into the screen legend's career, although the Beetlejuice actor was already a star in her own right.
As well as reprising her role as Edward Scissorhands' Kim Boggs in a 2021 Super Bowl commercial with Timothée Chalamet, Ryder returned to play the iconic Lydia Deetz in 2024's Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.
Wasting no time in moving on from playing Joyce, fans have spotted Ryder in A$AP Rocky's new music video. Coming from his "Don’t Be Dumb" album, which is due to release on January 16, "Punk Rocky" stars an eclectic mix of famous faces that includes composer Danny Elfman, rapper Thundercat, and fellow A$AP Mob member, A$AP Nast.
Variety reports that the video is directed by Rocky, Folkert Verdoorn, and Simon Becks, who are collectively known as the Three Musketeers. Considering "Don't Be Dumb" features album art from Tim Burton, who is a frequent collaborator with Elfman and Ryder, things come together nicely.
In the video, Rocky is practising with his garage band as Ryder plays a neighbor who bops along in a Beavis and Butthead tee while munching blueberries. And you thought Stranger Things was surreal.
The announcement confirms that the video for "Punky Rocky" brings “five out of six of his ‘Don’t Be Dumb’ alter egos to life: Rocky portraying GR1M, Tommy Revenge as RUGAHAND, Thoto as BABUSHKA BOI, the Williams twins as SHIRTHEAD, and DUMMY appearing alongside them."
Loving that Ryder is in the video, one fan cheered: "Always love how close Winona is to ALT culture. This is why the goths and the punks love her. I’m glad she was included in this video."
Another said: "No way Rocky really got Winona Ryder on his music vid 😭 this is straight masterpiece."
A third concluded: "Winona kills Vecna in the afternoon and goes partying with Rocky at night, haha PRIME ROCKY IS COMING BOOOOI."