Gaten Matarazzo on SNL’s ‘Stranger Things’ shoutout, Dustin and Steve’s big fight, and why AI is ‘lame’

Gaten Matarazzo didn’t quite believe it Saturday Night Broadcast star Jane Wickline claims that Stranger Things children are “the greatest threat to humanity today.”

During a December 13 Weekend Update appearance, Wickline sang a song warning viewers that Stranger Things child actors, now adults, will use their influence to take over the world. But Matarazzo is happy to assure humanity that this is not the case.

“Even if we had the ability to become the greatest threat to humanity, I don’t think we would have the courage to do that,” Matarazzo told Mashable Entertainment Reporter Belen Edwards. Say More interview. “I don’t know if I really have that in me.”

However, Wickline’s song never existed Really about Stranger Things actor. Instead, it’s a direct critique of artificial intelligence, with the comedian citing everything from AI’s impact on the job market to excessive water use. And although Matarazzo may not agree with Wickline that Stranger Things actor willing to commit to world domination, criticism of AI is something he can completely accept.

“It’s sad,” Matarazzo said of AI. “Making a show like Stranger Thingsor making anything in general, especially if you look at films and TV, the point is that it is subjective so people can have any opinion. But I don’t think anything can be called art unless someone makes it, and I don’t think there’s much to comment on unless people draw from their own experiences or share experiences.”

AI has undeniably become one of the most polarizing hot topics in the entertainment industry over the past few years. During the 2023 SAG-AFTRA and WGA strikes, which impacted production Stranger Things Season 5, AI becomes a major topic of concern for both unions. In 2025, this continues to be a topic of conversation, from the creation of AI “actress” Tilly Norwood to Disney’s $1 billion deal with OpenAI.

For Matarazzo, the acceleration of AI is worrying. “The scariest thing, I think, is people saying, ‘OK, great, let’s draw a line here,’ but then two years from now… there’s a fear that this will get to the point where it’s unrecognizable,” he said. “I think that’s the goal, so that people who like AI art will think, ‘wouldn’t it be a great thing if you couldn’t tell the difference?’ I was like, ‘That scares me.'”

The full interview also covers standout moments from Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 2, includes Dustin’s emotional showdown with Steve (Joe Keery) in the Upside Down. The pair are at odds throughout the season, as Dustin’s grief over Eddie’s (Joseph Quinn) death causes him to push his friends, especially Steve, away. The tension comes to a head in a replica of Hawkins’ laboratory in the Upside Down, when the pair’s argument about Eddie’s death ends in a fight full of character moments about Steven and Dustin.

“The thing I really liked about that fight was, if I remember correctly, he never swung at me once. He never hit me once,” Matarazzo said. “All he did was keep me away from him. He pushed me against the wall and pushed me away from him, because I was actively trying to hurt him.”

Dustin ends up punching Steve in the face, and his gloves come off. Steve wrestles Dustin until his head is pinned, and after the two end up, drained, on the floor, he walks away.

“That’s where he drew the line and ended it there. It was very clear, like, there was no fight there. If he wanted, of course, he could have dropped me in the next room, and that was never his intention there,” Matarazzo said. “That’s why, even though I’ve hurt him all year, he always remains calm. And that’s really cool. He’s definitely said some hurtful things, but everyone tends to do that, and I really like it when that’s the case.”

Watch in full Say More episode on Mashable’s YouTube page to hear more from Matarazzo about Dustin and Steve’s reconciliation, as well as his reaction to fans’ concerns that Dustin would die.

Volumes 1 and 2 of Stranger Things Season 5 is now streaming on Netflix. The series finale premieres December 31 at 8 pm ET on Netflix and in theaters.