Originally posted Friday, February 14, 2020 by RODNEY HO/rho@ajc.com on his AJC Radio & TV Talk blog

**SPOILERS GALORE HERE**

In a big teaser reveal, "Stranger Things" has confirmed that David Harbour's signature Chief Jim Hopper is not so dead after all.

His character appeared to perish at the end of season three. But there were immediate rumors that creators the Duffer Brothers could not possibly get rid of such an integral person on the show, that we never saw a body, that he could have been zapped somewhere else. There was a hint at the end of season 3 of an American in captivity in Russia that  many figured was Hopper.

Indeed, the trailer released today shows that Hopper is in some sort of 1980s-era Russian gulag in nasty cold weather.

This is also why “Stranger Things 4” is shooting part of its season in Eastern Europe. The type of snow and misery in the trailer would be hard to replicate in Atlanta without some serious CGI work.

"We're excited to officially confirm that production on 'Stranger Things 4' s now underway — and even more excited to announce the return of Hopper!" series creators Matt and Ross Duffer said in a statement. "Although it's not all good news for our 'American'; he is imprisoned far from home in the snowy wasteland of Kamchatka, where he will face dangers both human… and other. Meanwhile, back in the states, a new horror is beginning to surface, something long buried, something that connects everything… Season 4 is shaping up to be the biggest and most frightening season yet, and we cannot wait for everyone to see more. In the meantime — pray for the American."

“Stranger Things 4” will be back soon shooting in metro Atlanta.