Millie Bobby Brown, known for her leading role on Stranger Things, took on the role of mentor to the new young actors joining the show’s fifth season. At the red carpet premiere on Thursday, newcomer Jake Connelly, who portrays Derek Turnbow, shared how Brown warmly welcomed him and the other child stars as filming began. This gesture helped create a supportive atmosphere for the fresh faces entering the cast.
Jake Connelly Reflects on His Early Bond with Millie Bobby Brown
During the initial table read, Brown invited Connelly and fellow newcomer Jake Bongiovi to spend time together in her trailer, making an effort to help them feel at ease. Connelly recalled,
“I gotta say, one of the first days of the table read, Millie Bobby Brown called me over to her [trailer] and — my mom had no idea where I went — I was just there with Millie Bobby Brown and Jake Bongiovi just chilling it up, just talking,”
highlighting Brown’s friendliness. She encouraged the new actors by sharing her own early experiences and offered ongoing support, saying,
“‘Oh yeah, we were all your age when we started. If you ever need anything, you can just call us.’”
This open-door approach exemplified Brown’s commitment as a mentor on set, a role she embraced fully. Connelly noted,
“She gave us some great advice,”
underscoring how the seasoned star guided her younger colleagues through the demanding filming process.
New Cast Member Jake Connelly Shares His Connection to the Series
Born in 2012, Connelly was only about four years old when Stranger Things first debuted, but his family introduced him to the show more recently.
“I started watching it a good couple years ago, probably around when Season 4 came out,”
he revealed. He described how the series became a nightly tradition:
“As a family, we sat down every night and watched an episode before bed. It was just so fun seeing everything that my mom grew up with in the ’80s.”
Fresh Faces and Complex Characters Join the Hawkins Storyline
The fifth season of Stranger Things welcomes several new actors, including Nell Fisher, who takes on the role of Holly Wheeler. Connelly’s character, Derek Turnbow, adds depth to this expanding group of children. He warned that Derek is not an easygoing figure, describing him frankly as “a bully” in Hawkins. However, Connelly also provided insight into the character’s inner struggle:
“He really has that good deep down in his heart,”
elaborating,
“All bullies are really just insecure and they just have that insecurity and they take it out on other people.”
He added,
“But if somebody has someone to actually lift them up and be the wind underneath their wings they can patch all those insecurities and they can do great things,”
leaving viewers with a hint that Derek’s story may have moments of growth and redemption this season.
Anticipation Builds for Stranger Things Season 5 Release
The upcoming season will be delivered in two volumes on Netflix: the first premieres on November 26 at 5 p.m. PT, followed by the second on Christmas Day at the same time. The series finale will air on New Year’s Eve at 5 p.m. PT, marking the conclusion of this popular saga. With Millie Bobby Brown guiding the younger cast and complex new characters set to appear, fans can expect compelling performances and engaging storylines as the series wraps up.
