Diksha Sundriyal
The fifth and final season of Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ is set to resolve the conflicts that have been in play since the first season. However, before we get some answers, the first four episodes give us a set of new mysteries that tie into all the chaos that has been unleashed on the town of Hawkins so far. A major part of this new mystery is the youngest Wheeler sibling: Holly. She had been on the sidelines for the past couple of seasons, but now, as she takes a greater role in the events, another significant change is noted in her. It turns out that the Holly of Seasons 1 to 4 is not the one we see in Season 5. SPOILERS AHEAD.
Holly’s Arc in Season 5 Called for Major Casting Changes
Holly Wheeler was only five years old when she was introduced in the first season of ‘Stranger Things.’ At the time, the role was minimal and didn’t require a lot from the actors. Twins, Anniston and Tinsley Price, played the role in the first four instalments. Their casting made sense, as TV shows are known for hiring twins in cases of young characters to expedite filming while also staying in line with Hollywood’s labor laws. However, the first season premiered in 2016, which means the Price twins have grown significantly over the course of nine years. While that is not a problem when it comes to the character’s age, it does pose an issue when portraying the character on screen. The fifth season sees a considerable expansion in Holly’s arc as she becomes a key player in how the events turn out. Vecna sets his eyes on her, and her kidnapping kickstarts a chain of events that leads to some incredibly shocking outcomes.
Thus, with Holly emerging from the shadows and into the limelight, it was essential to maintain consistency with her character, which necessitated a single actor to play the role. Having the twins play the same role would have created inconsistencies, as both actors would have brought their own unique touch to Holly. In earlier seasons, it wasn’t an issue, and the Duffer brothers revealed that they didn’t put much thought into the character’s personality. Because she didn’t have many lines and was barely noticeable in the context of the rest of the characters, they allowed the twins to do their own thing, which formed the crux of their character. However, with a more prominent arc in the fifth season, they had to give her a proper voice and personality, which opened the space for a new character to enter the picture and present Holly in a new light.
Nell Fisher Takes Over the Role of Holly in Stranger Things Season 5
14-year-old Nell Fisher plays the role of Holly Wheeler in the fifth season of ‘Stranger Things.’ The London-based actress has previously been seen in projects like ‘Evil Dead Rise,’ ‘Bookworm,’ the second season of ‘My Life is Murder,’ and ‘Northspur.’ Her mother is British, while her father is from New Zealand, and she has spent her early years travelling the world with them. Her casting in the final season of ‘Stranger Things’ serves as a turning point for the young actress, who was ecstatic to become a part of the show. Calling the role of Holly an “incredible opportunity,” she said, “I’m part of the end of a very long road for a lot of people, and that’s a real joy to be a part of.” Fisher’s casting also allowed the Duffer brothers to get a better understanding of who Holly is as a person. They revealed that as they brought Holly into the equation, the final season “started to take shape,” bringing the story full circle.
They noted that the show began with a group of children solving a grand mystery that had taken over their town. They wanted to return to the show’s roots, which meant refocusing the story on children. But over the years, the core cast has grown, and so have their characters, which is where Holly and her friends and classmates came into the picture. Since they hadn’t really given much thought to Holly’s persona in the first four seasons, they painted her as a shy and withdrawn child for the fifth season. However, with the arrival of Fisher, the character underwent a transformation. They decided to mold the character after the actress, who is more extroverted and bubblier in real life, and they infused Holly with Nell’s energy. Thus, the young actress became pivotal in crafting Holly and making the audience root for her.
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