Terminator legend Linda Hamilton joins cast of Stranger Things season 5

A legend has entered our midst, as Linda Hamilton has officially joined the cast of Stranger Things season 5.

We’re going to need a minute to process this utterly spectacular news.

Best-known for playing fearsome fighter Sarah Connor in the Terminator franchise, Linda becoming a part of the hit Netflix sci-fi series for its final episodes will undoubtedly bring fans across the globe unbridled joy, in news that was announced during the streaming giant’s global fan event called Tudum.

While we don’t know yet who Linda will be playing or which side she’ll be on, if she ends up joining forces with the goodies, then Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) had better watch out!

In addition to playing one of the most iconic action characters ever in movie history, the 66-year-old has also received several impressive nods throughout her career, including being nominated for three Golden Globes.

The actor first played the role of Sarah Connor in the 1984 film The Terminator, the blockbuster that first introduced the world to Arnold Schwarzenegger as the titular cyborg, known for his line: ‘I’ll be back.’

However, one of the most unforgettable images of Linda as Sarah came from the 1991 sequel Terminator 2: Judgment Day, as the actor – who had gone through a huge physical transformation off screen – showcased her ripped arms in a black vest top while holding a rifle.

In an interview about the movie for StudioCanal, director James Cameron spoke about the gruelling training Linda underwent to prepare for the role, including how she learnt to masterfully handle firearms for the first time.

‘I’ll never forget, Arnold showed up on the first day of shooting, and he hadn’t seen Linda in months,’ James began.

Arnold continued: ‘I come from the physical fitness world, where you reshape and resculpt your body. But that what I saw there, was extraordinary.’

James added: ‘I think she was wearing her black combat vest with her arms bare. Arnold being a bodybuilder, immediately walked over and started feeling all her muscles.’

‘And I said, “Look at how ripped you are and your deltoids, that looks fantastic!”’ Arnold recollected.

James recalled how Linda said it was ‘all worth it’ because of her co-star’s impressed reaction.

Stranger Things fans are desperate to find out what the fifth and final season will have in store for them… but they’re going to have a little while to wait, with the last instalment expected to be released on Netflix sometime in 2024.

The season four finale left the show on a huge cliffhanger, after the evil Vecna successfully managed to rip a hole in the Indiana town of Hawkins and expose it to the Upside Down.

While it appeared that the villain – formerly known as Number One or Henry Creel – had been destroyed, Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) was able to sense that he was somehow still alive, spelling more danger for Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and the rest of the gang ahead of the final showdown.

Stranger Things season 5 will be released on Netflix. The first four seasons are available to stream.

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