'Stranger Things' Season 4 Teaser Sparks New Theory of What Really Happened to Hopper

Since Season 3 of Stranger Things premiered, fans have been desperately trying to figure out if Jim Hopper (played by David Harbour) is still alive. As you remember, Hopper sacrificed himself to close the gate to the Upside Down, but his death wasn’t actually shown on screen. That, along with the mention of the “American” being held by the Russians in the post-credits scene, caused a slew of speculation that the beloved character is actually still with us.

Now, Bustle reports that fans are back to theory making after Netflix released an official Season 4 teaser this week. In the clip above, an Upside-Down-esqe view of what looks to be Hopper and Eleven’s (played by Millie Bobby Brown) cabin is seen with a light on, along with the “Welcome to Hawkins” sign. The tagline for the season appears, reading, “We're not in Hawkins anymore,” accompanied by the sound of bell rings.

The view of the cabin, as well as the light inside going on and off, has led fans to believe that Hopper is definitely alive and hiding in the Upside Down, specifically in his cabin, comparing him to Will, who hid in Castle Byers during his stint in the evil world because it was where he felt most comfortable. In addition, fans are predicting that Hopper jumped into the gate right before Joyce Byers (played by Winona Ryder) closed it. If Hopper is in the Upside Down, it would be the perfect play of the tagline, as they aren’t technically in Hawkins anymore, but rather the insidious inverse.

Maybe Hopper isn’t “the American” as we first predicted, but he could very well still be alive. I guess we will have to wait and see where he is hiding, and how the gang is going to save him.