Unused concept art for Stranger Things season 4 may offer clues as to what to expect from Vecna in season 5. Season 4 of Stranger Things reveals an overarching villain that has been guiding the last few seasons, the formerly-human Henry Creel, dubbed Vecna by the teenage protagonists. Vecna’s monstrous appearance reflects the unnatural nature of the Upside Down while still being human enough to be deeply disturbing.
Early conceptual designs for Vecna included ideas such as a melting jaw or skin or blind eyes that bleed when he attacks. The Stranger Things designers ultimately went with the version of Vecna seen on screen because they wanted the actor, Jamie Bowers, to be able to emote through makeup and prosthetics rather than use computer effects. The upside to creating Vecna using practical effects, vs. CGI, is that it looks unsettling and scary on film. The downside is that it limits the kinds of effects the designers can apply. However, it is still possible to incorporate some new, more inhuman characteristics into season 5 Vecna that were considered for season 4.
Why Stranger Things Season 5 Vecna Should Be Scarier
In season 5, Vecna will be more dangerous than ever before, and his form should reflect that by being scarier. In season 4, episode 9, “The Piggyback,” Robin and Steve burn him with Molotov cocktails, and Nancy shoots him. At the same time, Hopper beheads one of the Demogorgons. Vecna winces whenever Hopper uses the sword on the Stranger Things creature during the finale. So it would make sense to see sword cuts, gunshot wounds, and a lot of fire damage on his body next season. This could mean bringing back one of the concept ideas of melted skin.
Another Stranger Things idea that could make Vecna scarier would be to blind him. Jamie Bowers (who plays Vecna and Henry Creel) could absolutely make a blind Vecna stare through a viewer’s soul. It would also be an excellent revenge from the Hawkins kids to blind Vecna as he did their friends. This is especially true if Max ends up being permanently blind due to her courageous and near-deadly encounter with Vecna.
How Will’s Painting Hints At A Season 5 Vecna Transformation
Will’s painting also features some possible directions for the new Vecna. In his rendition of the big bad in the Stranger Things season 4 painting, he shows the gang as a dragon with three heads. This could hint at how Vecna rebuilds himself after the nearly fatal blows he suffers in season 4. He could use parts of his creatures or the living vines of the Upside Down to rebuild himself into something like that dragon.
It is also possible that the meaning of the painting could be less literal and refer not to Vecna’s appearance but his final stand against the Hawkins gang. Vecna could gather his forces and strength for one last showdown involving himself, Demogorgons, Demobats, and possibly as-yet unseen creatures against Eleven and her friends to try to finally take over Hawkins once and for all. It will be interesting to see if the designers use Will’s painting, or any of the early designs for Vecna’s season 4 appearance, in Stranger Things season 5. One way or another, Vecna is sure to be at his most terrifying yet.