Dacre Montgomery Reveals His Hype for Stranger Things End

Dacre Montgomery, who is known across the globe as Billy Hargrove in Netflix’s Stranger Things, has reflected on his time since the series and commented on what's next for him. Although fans will not see him in the last season, he is eager to watch the final season as a fan himself while maintaining a focus on new personal and professional beginnings.

Dacre Watching the Stranger Things Finale Just Like Us

Although Billy Hargrove’s arc ended in Season 3. Montgomery feels intimately connected to the show that has shaped his career. In two recent interviews, he stated how he feels "excited to watch it all unfold," and describes himself as, "a fan like anyone else."

Montgomery lauded creators Matt and Ross Duffer as "amazing mentors" and credited them as his guide in learning about storytelling and performance. Montgomery fondly reflected on his experience with the cast, noting the tremendous talent that surrounded him while on set.

One co-star he mentioned was Sadie Sink, who played his younger sister Max in the show. He called her an "incredible actor" who would have an unbelievable career and said that watching her evolve had been one of the best parts of his journey with the series. 

While talking about Billy's arc, Montgomery said he was thankful for how mixed and complicated the audience felt with the character, even if Billy was hard to like. "It was really fun being part of something that people actually liked," he said, noting how passionate everyone can be surrounding boux4 was and how Stranger Things became a cultural touchstone that fans were really invested in.

Dacre Montgomery Is ‘Excited’ for 'Stranger Things' Finale, Reveals What He’s Most Eager to See Next from Cast (Exclusive) https://t.co/eBrNYytwpF

— People (@people) August 17, 2025

Why He Took a Step Back from Hollywood

At the peak of his fame, Montgomery made a shocking decision: he walked away from Hollywood. For fans, it just raised questions, but he has taken the time to explain why he made that move.

Stranger Things had given him a sudden amount of exposure, and he said he became exhausted from constant attention on social media. He said the “magic” of being an actor had disappeared, and he wanted to take some time to reflect, recharge, and restore his creative harmony.

Rather than continuing down the path of completing one project after another, he decided to slow down purposely, explaining he wanted to “reverse engineer” his career at his own pace. This premeditated break was never about necessary abandoning acting but a decision to find a healthier path forward.

An Emotional Comeback with Went Up the Hill

Montgomery made his comeback to acting with Went Up the Hill, an independent film that premiered on August 15, 2025. The narrative takes place in New Zealand and follows Jack, a grieving son filled with unresolved family pain.

For Montgomery, the project went beyond a job. He called it “a form of therapy,” as he used it as a means to confront his childhood grief during his own personal battle. The situation was heightened by their choice of New Zealand, where he spent some of his youth, making it an even greater experience for him.

Through his vulnerable performance on this project, Montgomery showed the fans more about who he is: not just another act in a commercial spectacle but a human storyteller.

What’s Next for Dacre Montgomery?

Along with acting, Montgomery is now a director. He has already secured financing for his first feature film, and is currently in pre-production. 

Montgomery has considered himself to be a "cinephile" for a long time, and for years, has dreamed of becoming a director. He believes that directing is an opportunity to have total artistic control, creating the entire package, rather than relying on a character and the writing. 

This transition indicates a change in his career, from a character who will always be remembered as Billy Hargrove in one of the largest shows on television, to a filmmaker that is identifying and creating their own name.

How His Journey Speaks to Every Stranger Things Fan

Dacre Montgomery's story matters not only because of his success, but also because of the integrity that motivates those choices. His decision to move away from the Hollywood limelight, the longing for authenticity he expressed with his social media ventures, the pressure of success he discussed, the diligence of making stuff that has good integrity in the world: all were relatable to fans everywhere. 

Now he is negotiating being an actor along with new creative endeavors, fans are looking forward to seeing how it all happens. Whether it's simply watching a finale of Stranger Things as a fan, or examining grief through an indie drama, or going behind the scenes, Montgomery is showing that his career will not only happen in one moment of time, nor be defined solely by fame; but instead, he creates and embraces his career through lived authenticity and vision.

Stranger Things Season 5 Release Dates Confirmed

While Montgomery gets ready to watch the series finale as a fan, Netflix has confirmed when audiences will finally get to see the final chapter of Stranger Things. Season 5 will release in three volumes, timed around important holidays at the end of 2025:

• Volume 1 (Episodes 1-4): November 26, 2025 - Thanksgiving Day
• Volume 2 (Episodes 5-7): December 25, 2025 - Christmas Day
• Volume 3 (Final Episode): December 31, 2025 - New Year's Eve

Each drop will go live at 5:00 p.m. PT on Netflix.

The staggered streams are in line with Season 4's release and will allow excitement to build throughout the holiday season. Fans will see the Hawkins crew one last time and end the year - and the series - with the long-awaited battle between Eleven and Vecna.

Source(Image / Thumbnail): people.com