'Stranger Things' Season 2: Everything We Know So Far 

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was loved by fans worldwide, prompting Netflix to quickly renew the show for a second season. Since the original series aired, theories about the show\'s characters have been circulating, along with casting rumors. While Season 1 will be hard to top, details about Season 2 promise more horror, more mystery, and even more episodes. Here\'s what we know so far.

1) Season 2 will feature nine episodes. Increasing the order from Season 1\'s eight episodes, Netflix has given the Duffer brothers even more time to expand the

2) Season 2 will be released on Halloween. Netflix has chosen this iconic release date, which is the perfect excuse to organize a

viewing party. Put Tuesday October 31, 2017 on your calendar.

3) The villain will be worse than Season 1\'s Demogorgon. Co-creator Ross Duffer said, "It\'s not about just taking another monster—it\'s a bigger, badder monster. We want it to feel a little bit different, a little bit darker." Producer Shawn Levy confirmed this when he said, "I think overall the kind of forces of evil that are inherent in Season 2 make that Demogorgon look quaint in retrospect." Basically, if The Monster in Season 1 seemed terrifying, then things are going to get much, much worse.

4) Will is still central to the plot. Producer Shawn Levy spoke about Season 2 on the GoldDerby podcast, and said, "Will Byers is very much at the centre of several intersecting challenges and threats in Season 2." Actor Finn Wolfhard confirmed this, and said, "Something happens to Will in the first couple of episodes that\'s very, very disturbing." Having just been reunited with his friends and family, it sounds as though his life begins to disintegrate very quickly.

5) Season 2 will have a different structure. Co-creator Matt Duffer said, "It\'s going to be very different structurally, which is fun," which suggests that the story might be less linear, or will span a greater period of time. Instead of having a fairly narrow focus like Season 1\'s eight episodes, which saw the characters search for Will, Season 2 will expand to incorporate new characters and storylines.

will play a new character. According to Netflix\'s press release, Astin will play Bob Newby, "a kind-hearted former nerd who went to high school with Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) and now manages the local Hawkins RadioShack." While further details about Bob are scarce, it\'s certainly possible that he might have some romantic feelings for Joyce or Hopper, having gone to high school with them.

7) Paul Reiser will play a new character called Dr. Owens. Apparently, Reiser\'s character is "a high-ranking member within the Department of Energy on a \'clean-up\' assignment, tasked with containing the events of last year." Dr. Owens sounds like a low-key villain, trying to cover-up the devastating events of Season 1, and hoping to get to the bottom of Eleven\'s disappearance. He could be an important antagonist.

8) The first episode of Season 2, "Madmax", refers to a new character. Max has been described as "a tough and confident girl" who\'s a bit of a tomboy, and has a penchant for skateboarding. Max\'s step-brother, Billy, will also be introduced, and is apparently super confident, a heavy drinker, and unpredictably violent. He also has a talent for stealing other people\'s girlfriend\'s, which could spell trouble for Steve and Nancy.

9) Eleven will be back. Fans worried that Season 1\'s conclusion might spell the end for Eleven. But as Millie Bobby Brown appears in the

teaser trailer, we know she\'ll be back. And, hopefully, she\'ll be more powerful than ever.

10) New episodes are set in 1984. The cast have been seen sporting

11) We\'ll find out more about Hopper\'s daughter. Actor David Harbour spoke at New York Comic Con in October 2016, and said, "I feel like with the loss of a daughter like that, I just feel like he’s truly broken in a way that almost cannot be healed." Harbour promised that Hopper\'s back story would be explored in even more detail.

12) Barb is definitely dead. According to Millie Bobby Brown, Barb will not be back for Season 2, as she told

, "No, she’s not alive!" It\'s a sad time for Barb fans, that\'s for sure.

As the cast and crew continue to remain tightlipped about the show, we\'ll all have to wait until October 31, 2017 to find out what Season 2 of

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