Entertainment
Who is Vecna in Stranger Things season 4 on Netflix? Villain from new trailer explained
Some fans believe Vecna looks familiar… (Picture: Netflix)
After months – no, years – of anticipation, the Stranger Things season 4 release date is just around the corner, promising even more terror for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the rest of the gang as war and monsters beckon.
The new horrifying trailer also unveiled a brand new villain lurking in the shadows, as a humanoid creature going by the name Vecna joins the cast.
In the clips released by Netflix, Max (Sadie Sink) is shown talking to her late brother Billy (Dacre Montgomery) while visiting his grave.
Later on, she’s shown levitating above the ground, leading some fans to predict that she’s somehow connected to the creature.
Vecna appears to be in the Upside Down in the final moments of the trailer, glaring menacingly at the camera before the screen fades to black.
Who is Vecna?
In the new trailer for Stranger Things season four, the humanoid creature wasn’t referred to by name.
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However, Netflix confirmed that they had been dubbed Vecna, a name that stems from Dungeons & Dragons, the game frequently played by the gang.
It appears as though Vecna could be the main villain of the new series, with some fans speculating whether it’s actually Billy, who was believed to have died in the season three finale.
Other names used to refer to monsters in Stranger Things have previously also come from Dungeons & Dragons, including the Demogorgon and the Mind Flayer.
While speaking to IGN, the creators of the show the Duffer Brothers explained that ever since season two, they had wanted to introduce an antagonist similar to the villains from the horror genre they grew up with, including Freddie Kruger, Pinhead and Pennywise. Enter: Vecna.
Looks like the gang could be facing their most terrifying foe yet (Picture: Courtesy of Netflix)
‘What you’re seeing here is 90% practical [effects]. And Vecna, throughout the season, is 90% practical. We wanted a presence on the set that our actors could react to, whereas in Season 3, they were reacting to a beach ball,’ said Ross Duffer.
‘We wanted something there that we could actually film, and I just think that that makes this villain scarier and more real and tangible and we’re just really excited for people to see him this season.’
Where does the name come from?
The name Vecna comes from an anagram of Vance, the surname of fantasy author Jack Vance, whose written works provided the inspiration for the magic system used in Dungeons & Dragons.
Regarded as being one of the most fearsome villains in the game, Vecna was a powerful wizard, before becoming an undead creature known as a lich.
Vecna is typically seen missing his left eye and his left hand, both of which are magical artifacts.
The second episode of Stranger Things season four is titled ‘Chapter Two: Vecna’s Curse’. Ominous indeed.
More: Netflix
When does Stranger Things season 4 come out?
Stranger Things season four premieres on Friday May 27, with the first batch of episodes.
The second volume will drop on Friday July 1, with the season consisting of nine episodes in total.
Stranger Things season four arrives on Netflix on Friday May 27, with the first three seasons available to watch on the platform.
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