🚨 VECNA’S BIGGEST MOMENT IS STILL COMING… and Jamie Campbell Bower just teased it’s gonna TOP everything we’ve seen! 😈 The actor behind Stranger Things’ ultimate big bad says his most iconic villain scene – bigger than Season 4’s massacre – is waiting in Volume 2 or the finale… and yes, there might even be TEARS from the monster himself?! With Vecna looking more snatched, scary, and powerful than ever, is this the emotional showdown with Eleven and Will we’ve been dying for? Fans are freaking out – drop a 😱 if you’re not ready! Full tea below 👇

As Netflix’s Stranger Things barrels toward its epic conclusion, Jamie Campbell Bower – the man behind the show’s terrifying antagonist Vecna – has dropped intriguing hints that the villain’s most memorable scenes are yet to come. In a recent interview with Gold Derby ahead of Volume 1’s November 26, 2025 release, Bower revealed that while Season 4’s Episode 7 massacre at Hawkins Lab remains a high point so far, Vecna’s true pinnacle arrives later in the final season.

“It comes later this season,” Bower said when asked about his character’s biggest villain moment to date. “From what we’ve seen thus far though, I would say Episode 7 of Season 4. But I would say ultimately, yes, there’s a couple of really huge moments this season for me as well.” He even teased emotional depth for the typically stoic monster, confirming “yes” to whether Vecna has a standout crying scene ahead.

The comments have sent fans into a frenzy, especially after Volume 1’s four episodes showcased a rebuilt, more menacing Vecna emerging from hiding. Burned and battered from Season 4’s fiery defeat, the character returns looking “snatched” – Bower’s own playful term – with a slimmer, more vascular design that reflects his injuries and evolution into an even deadlier threat.

Bower explained the new look ties directly to Vecna’s near-death experience. “As we saw at the end of Season 4, Vecna suffered a fall and obviously was sort of almost burned alive,” he told Screen Rant. “My understanding of it is that the reason he looks the way he does now is a byproduct of partly that process.” The actor jokingly attributed the villain’s toned physique to “Zumba” in an October Instagram post reacting to the trailer, but behind the scenes, it involved close collaboration with prosthetic makeup head Barrie Gower and costume designer Amy Parris.

To maintain Vecna’s imposing presence without full-body prosthetics in every scene, the team added shoulder pads, side blocks for a wider stance, and three-inch lifts in the shoes. “Vecna still has the presence that he had when I first stepped onto set – I want to make sure that I’m still large,” Bower told Variety. The result is a Vecna who towers more intimidatingly, blending practical effects with enhanced CGI for fluid, terrifying movements.

Volume 1 ends on a high note for the villain, with Vecna casually shrugging off military flamethrowers and dismissing Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) as insignificant during a Demogorgon attack. Bower described channeling a “wrestler going into the ring” energy for that entrance, wanting Vecna to appear “as badass as possible” while remaining a “very considered, calm, powerful figure.”

But the actor’s teases suggest Volume 2 (dropping Christmas Day) and the 2-hour-5-minute finale on New Year’s Eve will escalate dramatically. Vecna’s plan involves abducting children – including Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) – under the guise of “Mr. Whatsit,” a fedora-wearing alter ego inspired by A Wrinkle in Time and figures like the Pied Piper. This Freddy Krueger-esque tactic lures kids into a dreamlike manor, masking the horrors of the Upside Down.

Bower drew from varied pop culture for Mr. Whatsit, blending friendly children’s TV hosts with darker undertones. “This is a presentation of what Henry, in his current state as Vecna, thinks he could be like, or what somebody will be comfortable around,” he explained. The duality allows Bower to film without full makeup at times, a relief after Season 4’s grueling eight-hour prosthetic sessions.

Off-screen, Bower has formed close bonds with the cast, particularly Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven). During intense confrontation scenes, Brown would recognize his scent through the costume – “I feel safe because I can smell your cigarettes” – helping ease the tension. “We all are such a family,” Bower reflected, calling Stranger Things one of the most amazing projects he’s worked on.

The actor also gained deeper insight into Vecna/Henry Creel from watching the West End play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which explores the character’s origins. “It helped me discover more,” he said, noting eerie on-set moments where “something else is there” during performances.

As Hawkins remains under military quarantine in fall 1987, the core group – Eleven, Mike (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas (Caleb McLaughlin), Will, Max (Sadie Sink), and allies like Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) – races to stop Vecna’s world-merging apocalypse. Will’s newfound powers, channeling the hive mind against Vecna’s forces, set up a personal showdown teased since Season 1.

Bower has long hoped for unfinished business between Vecna and Will to be explored. “It feels like there’s unfinished business between Will and Vecna – and I hope that that’s explored a bit more,” he said in earlier interviews. With Vecna viewing Eleven as an equal but Will as a mere tool, the dynamic promises explosive confrontations.

Creators Matt and Ross Duffer have described Season 5 as their most ambitious, with Vecna attacking in the real world on a larger scale. “We needed to take his abilities to a new level,” Matt Duffer told Entertainment Weekly, explaining the upgraded design. The split release – Volume 1 in November, Volume 2 on December 25, and the standalone finale simulcast in theaters – builds anticipation like never before.

Fans are already selling out theatrical tickets for the New Year’s Eve event, eager for communal reactions to Vecna’s climax. Bower’s hints of “huge moments” and even vulnerability suggest the villain won’t go down without revealing more layers – perhaps tying into themes of resentment, love, and humanity that Bower has explored.

Music remains key to Vecna’s character, with Bower drawing inspiration from albums to get into the mindset. His own background as a musician informs the rhythmic, deliberate menace.

As the series wraps nine years of storytelling, Bower expressed gratitude for fan connection to Vecna, despite the horror. “Fans feel connected,” he said, appreciating the role’s impact.

Whether Vecna’s biggest moment involves a tearful breakdown, a devastating power display, or a final clash with Eleven and Will, Bower’s teases confirm the endgame will deliver. Volume 1 has set the stage with strong reviews for its horror return and character focus, but the real fireworks – and perhaps Vecna’s heart on a platter, as Dustin vows – await.

Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 is streaming now on Netflix, with Volume 2 arriving December 25 and the finale “The Rightside Up” on December 31, in theaters and on the platform. The cast includes Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Sadie Sink, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Priah Ferguson, Nell Fisher, Jamie Campbell Bower, and Linda Hamilton.