As the first trailer for Stranger Things' third season teased the citizens of Hawkins, Indiana facing a new threat in the summer of 1985, it also promised that a returning actor is poised to have a much larger role than she had in Season 2.
The upcoming season will see Priah Ferguson reprise her scene-stealing role as Erica after appearing in a smaller, recurring capacity in the second season. Though Erica Sinclair, the younger sister of main character Lucas, is seen only briefly in the trailer, the fact that she's navigating though an air duct while wearing a helmet fitted with lights to help her find her way through the tight space indicates that whatever her ultimate screen time, her role will be a pretty important one.
The brief glimpse of Erica in a more action-oriented role appears to confirm reports from last year that she'll have a larger part to play in the Netflix series. Little is known about what, exactly, it will entail, but she'll reportedly be seen with her own group of friends as the unknown new danger comes to menace Hawkins and threaten the entire town.
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Ferguson's performance as Erica in Season 2 won over fans of the series thanks to her sassy dynamic with her older brother, teasing Lucas for his nerdy interests throughout the second season and commenting on his lack of female friends. Despite only appearing in a limited role in the second season and not appearing in the first season at all, the character made a quick, positive impression on fans who were happy to learn of plans to expand her role in Season 3.
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The previous report, released prior to the start of principal photography this past April, teased that Erica and her friends would embark on a "wild mission to save the town." Whether this entails Erica teaming up with Lucas and his friends as part of a larger strategy, or operating independently with her own friends as previously hinted has yet to be seen. Whatever the case, the younger Sinclair sibling appears to be in the center of the action after remaining in the safety of her own home for the majority of Season 2.
As for the new threat facing Hawkins during the summer of 1985, there are rumors that Soviet operatives working undercover have come to the small Indiana town after learning of the events from the first two seasons and the American government's involvement. With Hawkins now facing both a new extra-dimensional monster and the threat of the Cold War heating up as the kids begin to enjoy their summer vacation in earnest, it's possible Erica's adventures might not be supernatural in nature. Perhaps the footage shows her sneaking into a top-secret government facility or evading potential Soviet agents that have infiltrated her hometown with their own sinister agenda.
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Whatever the younger Sinclair may be facing, it good to see Ferguson back in her fan-favorite role. With her sassy attitude, the new threats facing Hawkins won't stand a chance.
Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things stars Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Priah Ferguson, Cary Elwes, Jake Busey and Maya Thurman-Hawke. Season 3 will debut on Netflix on July 4.