We finally know how many episodes Stranger Things‘ forthcoming third season will consist of and, sadly, it’s less than Eleven.

TVLine has learned exclusively that Netflix’s ’80s phenom will produce eight episodes in Season 3, down one installment compared to Season 2’s nine-episode haul but in line with Season 1’s total. Production is slated to begin in mid April.

What else do we know about Season 3? Not much, although series co-creators the Duffer Brothers did previously confirm that the action would jump ahead a year (presumably) to 1985, when Goonies and Back to the Future were all the rage. “Even if we wanted to hop into the action faster, we couldn’t,” Matt Duffer told THR. “Our kids are aging. We can only write and produce the show so fast. They’re going to be almost a year older by the time we start shooting Season 3… [so] it forces you to do a time jump.”

Returning for Season 3 are series regulars Winona Ryder (Joyce), David Harbour (Jim), Finn Wolfhard (Mike), Noah Schnapp (Will), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin), Cara Buono (Karen), Natalia Dyer (Nancy), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan), Joe Keery (Steve), Dacre Montgomery (Billy), and Sadie Sink (Max).

The world of Stranger Things is expanding.

Netflix has announced casting for two roles in the show's upcoming third season, one of whom is already a familiar face within the Upside Down universe: Priah Ferguson, who plays Erica Sinclair, Lucas' (Caleb McLoughlin) younger sister. After guest starring in season two, Ferguson will return in season three as a recurring star.

What's more, Erica won't be alone. Netflix notes that Erica will be accompanied by "an army of friends" as she heads into the third season of the series. No longer content with sitting on the sidelines, Erica finds herself on a wild mission to save Hawkins from a dangerous and unexpected new threat.

Based on the description, it sounds like Erica and her friends will be fighting back against the Upside Down this season. If so? The Mind Flayer doesn't stand a chance.

Meanwhile, another new actor has been added to the Stranger Things cast: Maya Thurman-Hawke, who plays Jo March in BBC and Masterpiece's adaptation of Louisa May Alcott's Little Women. Thurman-Hawke will play a brand new character: Robin, an alternative girl who is equal parts sharp and playful. Bored with her mundane day job, she just wants a little excitement in her life… and gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers a dark secret in Hawkins.

Exactly what does that dark secret entail? Appropriately enough, Stranger Things fans are very much in the dark in that regard. While the first season ended with a strong indication of the next year's story, season two ended in such a fashion that the future of the series is somewhat unknown. The Mind Flayer still towers over Hawkins from the Upside Down, but otherwise? The next moves are up in the air — exactly as the Duffers want it, according to what they previously told The Hollywood Reporter: "Last year, we had a lot of little cliffhangers at the end of the season. We didn't want to do that again. We didn't want to box ourselves in for season three. We wanted to be able to start season three on a very clean slate."

The third season of Stranger Things is expected to land in 2019.

Stranger Things meets Princess Bride? As you wish.

Cary Elwes is set to guest-star as Mayor Kline in Season 3 of the Netflix phenomenon, according to our sister site Deadline. The casting was first announced by Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos.

In addition, recent Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. guest star Jake “son of Gary” Busey has been tapped to play a character by the name of Bruce. No further details about either role have been disclosed at this time.

Elwes is of course best known for his role as Westley in the aforementioned Princess Bride. His TV credits include recurring roles on The X-Files and Psych, as well as a series regular stint on Crackle’s The Art of More. Busey, meanwhile, has been seen in Ray Donovan and From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series.

Production on Stranger Things‘ eight-episode Season 3 is set to commence next month.