Gaten Matarazzo Dreads Seeing The End Of 'Stranger Things' Because It's Been 'Pretty Great Job Security'

American actor Gaten Matarazzo expressed how he feels about his hit Netflix series "Stranger Things" reaching its final season.

Matarazzo said he has a "deep fear" for the show ending as it has been the "defining aspect" of his life, noting that the show has afforded him "pretty great job security" over the years.

The actor revealed that although he doesn't know what's in store for his character, Dustin Henderson, he'd love to see his clique get through the trauma they've experienced together.

Read on for more details.

The "Stranger Things" actor recently opened up about his "deep fear" as the end of the hit Netflix show draws near after starring in it for about a decade.

During his latest appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon," Matarazzo, 20, talked about what life has been like for him as he prepares to see the end of the series.

"It's interesting to constantly just be reminded how much people have resonated with it," the actor said per Insider. "I mean, it's something that's so important to all of us and has just been essential to the growth that I've had over all of my teenage years into my 20s. It's the defining aspect of the past 10 years of my life, practically the past decade."

The host of the program subsequently inquired of Matarazzo whether it was "bittersweet" to have to say goodbye to the program.

He replied, "Of course it is. There's kind of an excitement there because you always want to wrap it up and see how these characters are going to finally develop one last time and how they're going to finish their journeys."

"But also, there's like a deep fear. Not only has it been amazing, but it's been pretty great job security for a while," Matarazzo said as they both laughed. "Back to freelancing," he added.

The actor continued by saying that although he doesn't know what lies ahead for his character, Dustin Henderson, he hopes the characters on the show survive the "trauma" they have collectively experienced.

"I'd love to see a good launchpad for growth, and I'd love to see these characters thrive and move on from the trauma they've endured over the past few years," he noted.

"Stranger Things" season 5 will reportedly premiere later this year or early in 2024.

Several fans of the Netflix series took to social media to share their reaction to the season ending. "I'm so excited about season 5, sad it's going to be the last season, but stranger things is a part of me now," a fan wrote.

"Can't wait for season 5. Gaten is so spiritual, he doesn't want to give away spoilers to his character on what will happen in this final season," another fan noted. "He's done an amazing job playing Dustin. Wish him all the best and look forward to seeing him in other projects in the future."

A quite pessimistic fan said, "I have a very bad feeling a lot of people will die next season! I'm not ready, but I am. It's gonna be hard."

Another fan wrote, "Good to see Gaten so grown and being his humorous self. I'm appalled that stranger things is coming to an end."

Matarazzo has cleidocranial dysplasia (CCD), a rare genetic disorder that affects the growth of the jaw, skull, teeth, joints, and frequently the clavicles.

According to an interview with Esquire, he shared that the Duffer brothers factored his health condition into the movie script.

"The segues into it are so natural. It makes me emotional thinking about how weirdly accurate they bring it up every season," Matarazzo said, per Looper. "There's always a little reference in a weird little joking manner. It's the way I would joke about it with my friends."

Matarazzo has contributed significantly to raising awareness of the condition and has since co-founded a nonprofit organization called CCD Smiles to assist in generating funds for victims' surgeries.