Stranger Things Season 2 Adds Lord of the Rings Veteran

Netflix has announced more cast members for Stranger Things Season 2.

As detailed by Entertainment Weekly, the first is The Lord of the Rings star Sean Astin, who will play Bob Newby, described by Netflix as a "kindhearted former nerd" who went to high school with Joyce (Winona Ryder) and police chief Hopper (David Harbour); he now manages a RadioShack in the show's fictional setting of Hawkins, Indiana.

Another new cast member is Paul Reiser (Aliens, Whiplash), who takes on the character Dr. Owens. He works for the Department of Energy as a "clear-up" assistant, part of the team "tasked with containing the events of last year." As announced previously, Stranger Things Season 2 takes place in 1984, a year after the events of the first season.

Finally, Danish actress Linnea Berthelsen plays a character named Roman. She sounds particularly interesting. Netflix describes her as an "emotionally damaged, magnetic young woman who suffered a great loss as a child. Although she does not live in Hawkins, she is mysteriously connected to the supernatural events at the lab…"

Stranger Things Season 2 premieres on Netflix in 2017. According to creators Matt and Ross Duffer, it will be "darker and weirder" than the first season.

The plot is a mystery, but Netflix has confirmed that actors from Power Rangers and American Odyssey are joining the show for its second season. Additionally, Millie Bobby Brown's character, Eleven, is coming back for Season 2.

In other Stranger Things news, Funko has announced a series of Pop Vinyl figures based on characters from the show, even including the Demogorgon.