Popverse's top stories

• Welcome to 2026! Here's how Popverse will continue to be your pop culture tour guide & bestie
• Even though he was the Punisher, people still remember Thomas Jane for his cameo on Arrested Development
• Star Wars will return in 2027 with a Stranger Things inspired makeover, teases Starfighter director

Spoilers for Stranger Things season 5 follow.

Even though the rock 'n roll-loving characters of Stranger Things were certainly familiar with Led Zeppelin, we'll never see that on screen. And I'm not just saying that because, as of December 31, 2025, there's no such thing as a new Stranger Things episode (well, not in the core series, anyway). You see, Led Zeppelin doesn't let very many shows or movies use their music at all, even though that didn't stop the folks behind the show's memorable music from hoping for it.

Speaking in a recent interview with Vulture, series music supervisor touched on her hopes to have arguably Led Zeppelin's favorite song included in the show's emotional season 5 finale episode.

"I’m not going to say Led Zeppelin didn’t come up," said Nora Felder, who has been behind the show's music since it debuted, "I tried Led Zeppelin, but it didn’t work because I was thinking 'Stairway to Heaven' and it wasn’t a first and a last situation."

Ultimately, as you already know if you've watched the season 5 finale, the climactic events of the Hawkins gang vs. the Mind Flayer made use of a different rock icon - delivering some heart-wrenching bits to the tune of Prince's Purple Rain and When Doves Cry, respectively. And while no one's complaining about how the show used these transcendent numbers, it's at least worth imagining, as Felder herself did, what they might've been like to Stairway to Heaven. Perhaps Led Zeppelin will be a bit more leniant for the upcoming Stranger Things spinoff?

Nah, we didn't really think so either.

Stranger Things is streaming now on Netflix.

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"