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The question of whether Eleven lives on after her apparent sacrifice in the series finale of Stranger Things will likely be a topic of conversation among fans for years to come. And if they can wait two whole decades, well, Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer are jokingly teasing that they'll give a definitive answer one way or the other.

The promise is a reference to The Sopranos creator David Chase finally giving fans a real answer about whether embattled mob boss Tony Soprano dies in the notoriously ambiguous final scene of the 2007 series finale, which cuts to black as a stranger approaches Tony and his family in a diner. Chase seemingly revealed the truth in 2021, referring to it very intentionally as a "death scene."

"If we're talking to you in 20 years, about Stranger Things in 20 years, I hope so, I hope people will still care," co-creator Ross Duffer said on the podcast Happy Sad Confused. "That would be great. And then I'll say everything, at that point. 20 years from now."

The conversation moves on to discussing the opinions of the cast themselves, some of whom have stated in the press that they believe Eleven is indeed alive out there somewhere.

"That's interesting. That's all that I'll say," Matt Duffer stated cryptically. "I will say, it's funny that so many of the actors are going out, saying that they believe. I'm like, 'What are you talking about?'. I'm not saying they're wrong, it's just interesting that they all concluded that without talking to us. Cause that's not what the characters believe. So I don't know what's going on."

There is one potential clue to Eleven's true ending, a heartbeat-like sound over the final episode's ending credits, which some viewers have interpreted as a sign that Eleven is meant to be alive.

"It is written in the script that it is supposed to sound like a heartbeat, but it's actually the Bridge," Matt Duffer revealed, leaving the question of what that may signify up to interpretation. "That's what it is. It's just distorted. But yeah, you can interpret it as that. It was meant to be interpreted as that potentially."

That's not a confirmation that Eleven is still alive, but it's certainly not a denial. For now, the question will have to remain a debate between Stranger Things fans. The idea of Eleven still being alive somewhere is the more romantic notion of the two, though perhaps just the idea that she could have made it through is enough to keep hope alive for her friends in Hawkins.

Stranger Things is streaming on Netflix now.

As we all collectively wait for Stranger Things season 5, here's the keys to getting ready:

• How to watch Stranger Things in chronological or release order
• Getting to know the Stranger Things season 5 cast
• There needs to be more death in Stranger Things, says co-star Gaten Matarazzo
• The Stranger Things time jump between season 4 and 5 has been confirmed by Netflix - and it raises some serious questions
• "They land the plane," David Harbour describes the Stranger Things finale, which he calls its "best episode"