Why was Holly Wheeler recast Stranger Things season 5? Nell Fisher's role, explained

Stranger Things season 5 is a popular Netflix series that has released its first volume on Wednesday, November 26. The season will be released in three parts. The second and final volumes are set to arrive on December 25 and December 31, respectively.

Holly Wheeler, a Wheeler family member, plays a significant role in Stranger Things season 5. Holly is no longer a peripheral character. In this final season, the youngest Wheeler sibling becomes entangled in the main storyline.

Nell Fisher plays the character in season 5, replacing twins Anniston and Tinsley Price. This change has fans wondering why the character was recast and what it means for the show.

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Reasons for the recast of Holly Wheeler's character in Stranger Things season 5

Stranger Things season 5 brings Holly Wheeler to the forefront, shifting her from a background character to a key player in the unfolding events. This change required a recast, which was a big deal for a show that has gained an emotional following. In the early seasons, Anniston played Holly, and Tinsley Price played a child.

In earlier seasons, Holly Wheeler was a young child. She mostly showed up in family scenes or as a plot device. The character gets a bigger storyline in the fifth season.

Holly is linked to the supernatural parts of the Upside Down and becomes an important part of the fight against Vecna. With Holly's role changing, the Duffer Brothers knew they needed an actress who could play her as an older girl who could handle a more serious plot.

Age was a major factor in recasting Holly Wheeler. In Stranger Things season 5, she is around seven years old. While maintaining Holly's innocence and vulnerability, the Duffer Brothers wanted her to actively engage with the show's darker themes.

Executive producer Shawn Levy told Netflix Tudum, published on November 29 (via Tudum by Netflix):

"For this season, the Duffer Brothers wanted to centralize Holly as a main character. Many, many years ago, we had two 3-year-old twins play Holly, back when I was shooting her following Christmas lights down a hallway.”

Shawn further continued:

"So this time around, there was both an opportunity, but also a necessity, to find someone to play Holly who is around the same age — that innocent, defining age — that our kids were when this started."

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Who is Nell Fisher?

"Stranger Things 5" UK Special Screening - Arrivals - Source: Getty

Actress Nell Fisher plays Holly Wheeler in season 5. Fisher is a 14-year-old British actress born on November 2, 2011. She changes the role's look. Fisher is new to big projects, but she has made a name for herself in Evil Dead Rise and My Life Is Murder.

Before playing Holly, Fisher was best known for playing Kassie in Evil Dead Rise, making her apt for Holly, who faces Demogorgons, Vecna, and supernatural chaos in season 5.

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Holly Wheeler’s character in season 5

Holly Wheeler matures in season 5. She goes from being a passive character to a key Vecna opponent. Holly becomes Vecna's first mind-manipulated victim early in the season. Vecna takes advantage of her innocence by impersonating her imaginary friend, Mr. Whatsit, to trap her in his mind.

Holly's relationship with Vecna is crucial in Stranger Things season 5 because it draws her into the Upside Down mystery. In the story, Vecna kidnaps her and takes her to an Upside Down lair, where she symbolizes innocence lost. Holly's stories return the show to childhood, innocence, and loss.

Shawn Levy further continued about the portrayal of Holly Wheeler,

"Centering Holly not only gives us a new character to explore and root for, but is also very thematic because, in many ways, this show has always been about childhood, about the vulnerability of innocence, but also the superpower of innocence. We’ve all watched these kids grow up and have this very visceral connection to the kids of Stranger Things.”

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Stranger Things season 5 is currently streaming on Netflix.