Finn Wolfhard marked his hosting debut on Saturday Night Live with a surprise reunion alongside Stranger Things costars Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo. The trio celebrated their transition from child stars to adults in a humorous opening monologue. The segment highlighted their growth since the show's start when Wolfhard was 12.
Finn Wolfhard hosted the January 18, 2026, episode of Saturday Night Live, season 51, episode 10, using his opening monologue to reflect on his evolution from a child actor to a 23-year-old man. He began by expressing pride in his maturity, accepting a glass of alcohol from cast member Marcello Hernández, only to spit it out immediately, joking that it was "too spicy."
Wolfhard noted that Stranger Things, which concluded its five-season run on Netflix, began when he was 12, allowing 400 million viewers to witness his puberty. "It feels so amazing that 400 million people got to watch me go through puberty. What a dream," he said. He reminisced about on-set firsts, including a comedic reference to learning "what a woman looks like down there," illustrated by his character Mike confronting a Demogorgon.
Declaring, "'Stranger Things' is over, and I’m not a kid anymore," Wolfhard was interrupted by McLaughlin and Matarazzo storming the stage to cheers. "And neither are we!" McLaughlin shouted, as the three hugged. They joked about being "former child stars," with Matarazzo adding, "And anytime you read 'former child star' in a headline, it can only mean good things."
Wolfhard thanked fans for watching them grow up, prompting McLaughlin to quip about online comments on their changing appearances. The reunion ended with another embrace, Wolfhard saying, "Even though we're now men, you'll always be my boys." The group toasted Wolfhard's hosting gig, landing on a punchline about being ready for "adult films."
The lighthearted segment underscored the end of Stranger Things and the actors' transition to adulthood, delighting fans with the unexpected cameo.