Stranger Things fans have long wondered if there was a chance to redeem Vecna. While the Duffer Brothers tried redeeming him using a Star Wars trope, Jamie Campbell Bower had his own way, which unfortunately did not work out.

In a recent appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, Bower revealed that he wanted to say the words ‘Please don’t,’ while he was coughing up blood. Despite their efforts, the line did not work out.

I wanted to try and convey the words, “Please don’t.”… Henry and Joyce have met each other [in Stranger Things: First Shadow]. So when she kind of walks up to him, I felt like, in that moment, that the humanity could come through a little bit more and we could just reintroduce that level of sort of potential “maybe he could be saved” at that point… We try it but it didn’t work. It didn’t land. But the emotion is there.

If they had managed to make it work, it would have changed everything for Vecna. He would no longer have been the terrifying villain he was, but it would have made him weak, making all the ‘he’s pure evil’ buildup go to waste.

Will Vecna Return in Stranger Things Episode 9?

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After the explosive finale of Stranger Things, a new theory has been going around social media claiming that a new episode of Season 5 will be released on January 7. While there is no confirmation whatsoever from the Duffers or Netflix, several fans are convinced that a secret Episode 9 will be released.

This theory is being called the Confirmity Gate, and a viral video of Bower has fueled the speculation even more. The actor recently performed a skit on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, and in one bit, he stated, “Let’s channel our energy. Tomorrow, it begins.”

Although that line is in no way a confirmation of an extra Episode 9, fans believe it might be something related to the theory. One TikToker also pointed out that the skit is named Turn the Pounds Upside Down, Volume 3, causing more speculation.

Unfortunately, there is no confirmation of such an episode, and it remains pure speculation. In fact, the only confirmation we have gotten is regarding a documentary called One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things.

It will debut on Netflix on January 12 and will be directed by Martina Radwan, offering an inside look at the years of effort and craft that went into the creation of Season 5. We can surely expect the cast, including Bower, to show up in the documentary.

What’s Next for Jamie Campbell Bower After Stranger Things

With Stranger Things now concluded, all the cast and crew of the Netflix show are moving on. As for Jamie Campbell Bower, the actor appears to be taking a break after completing the Netflix show.

When asked about what his priority project will be in 2026, he remarked:

Sleep! I’ve got stuff I’m working on myself that will arrive when it arrives, and will be what it needs to be when it does appear. I’m in no rush with it; I let the muse lead the way. But first and foremost, some good rest and looking into new horizons.

While he did not reveal what he has been working on, it is likely related to his music or the new band he formed in 2024, BloodMagic. Moreover, he is slated to appear in a Q&A panel and more on the Gold Coast and in Melbourne as part of the Supernova Comic Con, which will be held in April 2026.

He has also been cast in the third season of Prime Video’s The Lord of the Rings: The Rings of Power. He will appear as a series regular, but the details of his role remain a secret. However, industry sources suggest that his character will be a handsome, high-born knight, with the code name Arlen being circulated online.