Why Millie Bobby Brown Missed the Broadway Premiere of Stranger Things: The First Shadow

As the Stranger Things prequel takes center stage in New York, the original Eleven is filming Enola Holmes 3 — but her absence didn’t dim the show’s star-studded opening night.

Millie Bobby Brown Skips Broadway Premiere of Stranger Things: The First Shadow to Film Enola Holmes 3

The world of Stranger Things expanded once again — this time from screen to stage — as Stranger Things: The First Shadow made its Broadway debut on Tuesday, April 22, at the Marquis Theatre in New York City. But as the spotlight shone brightly on this theatrical prequel, one major star from the original Netflix series was noticeably absent.

Millie Bobby Brown, the actress behind the series’ telekinetic icon Eleven, was not in attendance at the grand opening. The 21-year-old is currently filming Enola Holmes 3, the latest installment in Netflix’s popular detective-adventure franchise where she stars as Sherlock Holmes’ younger sister.

Brown’s absence, while felt, didn’t stop other Stranger Things stars from showing their support. The opening night guest list included Noah Schnapp, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Jamie Campbell Bower, Cara Buono, Matthew Modine, Brett Gelman, and Priah Ferguson — all of whom turned up to celebrate the Broadway iteration of the beloved supernatural saga.

Also missing from the red carpet was Sadie Sink, who plays Max in the series. However, she made time to attend a preview performance on Monday, her day off from starring in John Proctor Is the Villain — a new play at Broadway’s Booth Theatre.

Brown’s Next Chapter: Enola Holmes 3

While the Hawkins gang was lighting up Broadway, Brown was diving back into mystery-solving as Enola Holmes. The third film in the franchise reunites her with co-stars Henry Cavill as Sherlock Holmes, Helena Bonham Carter as Eudoria Holmes, Louis Partridge as Lord Tewkesbury, and adds new names like Himesh Patel and Sharon Duncan-Brewster. Directed by Philip Barantini and adapted by Jack Thorne — who also penned the first two Enola Holmes movies — the film promises a thrilling new adventure.

According to the synopsis, Enola Holmes 3 finds the young detective chasing a case all the way to Malta, where “personal and professional dreams collide on a case more tangled and treacherous than any she has faced before.”

A Look at The First Shadow

While Brown pursues justice in Malta (fictionally, at least), Stranger Things: The First Shadow is diving into the eerie origins of the Upside Down. Set in 1959 Hawkins, Indiana, the play explores the teenage lives of Jim Hopper, Joyce Maldonado, Bob Newby, and Henry Creel — the boy who would become the sinister Vecna.

The production is co-directed by Stephen Daldry and Justin Martin, and written by Stranger Things alum Kate Trefry. Thorne and Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer also helped bring the story to life. Speaking with PEOPLE, Trefry said she was given “free rein to go crazy,” while ensuring the play ties into the established Stranger Things universe — and even hints at Season 5 of the Netflix show.

A Stage Hit With Star Power

Transferring from a successful West End run in London, The First Shadow arrives on Broadway with critical acclaim and a thrilling blend of theatrical innovation and supernatural storytelling. With projections, lighting effects, and stagecraft designed to bring the Upside Down to life, the play has already made a strong impression on audiences.

Though Millie Bobby Brown couldn’t be there in person, her influence on the Stranger Things legacy — and its global popularity — was deeply felt on Broadway. And with Enola Holmes 3 in the works, fans won’t have to wait long to see her back in action.