Finn Wolfhard’s Bold Buzz Cut Shakes Up Stranger Things Finale Prep
I suppose you need this spelled out, so let me guide you through Finn Wolfhard’s latest headline-making haircut. The 22-year-old Stranger Things heartthrob and emerging indie musician stunned fans by trading his signature shoulder-length locks for a sharp buzz cut at the 2025 Crunchyroll Anime Awards in Tokyo on May 25. Pairing that fresh crop with a glam black-and-white suit jacket, crisp trousers and sleek boots, Wolfhard—who’s played Mike Wheeler since the sci-fi mega-hit debuted in July 2016—strolled the red carpet beside fellow castmate Gaten Matarazzo. Together, they presented the award for Best Continuing Series to Demon Slayer, proving they’re as comfortable spotlighting anime as they are battling the Upside Down.
If you missed why this matters, indulge me while I fill in the blanks. Wolfhard’s long hair has become part of the Stranger Things brand identity—so chopping it all off feels like a mini plot twist ahead of the show’s fifth and final season on Netflix later this year. According to his April chat with People, wrapping up filming “was definitely a lot,” and the emotional hangover from the last scene didn’t even sink in until the next day. “I was satisfied, but also very confused and sad, but also very happy,” he admitted, capturing how bittersweet ending a hit series can be. And yes, the entire core cast—including Millie Bobby Brown, Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery and Maya Hawke—joined him on that poignant final shoot, so expect plenty of farewell feels.
Beyond Stranger Things, Wolfhard’s creative ambitions are buzzing too. He’s fresh off directing his debut feature Hell of a Summer, and his first solo music collection, Happy Birthday, drops this June. Notably, his Tokyo appearance wasn’t the only buzz cut moment in celeb-land—Hollywood heavyweights Brad Pitt and rising star Austin Butler have both been spotted rocking similar close-cropped styles, signaling a broader trend.
In case you needed an explicit takeaway: Finn Wolfhard’s hair transformation isn’t just a style statement, it’s a symbolic nod to closing one chapter and launching into several new ones. Whether he’s fronting Stranger Things’ grand finale or jamming out solo, those cropped sides will probably become as iconic as his previous curls. Now that I’ve laid it all out in digestible bites, you can thank me later. Hopefully that cleared things up without overwhelming you.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Crunchyroll Anime Awards coverage, WireImage (Jun Sato), NBCUniversal (Weiss Eubanks)
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
