Overview

• In interviews published August 13–14, Montgomery told The Australian that relentless social-media scrutiny stripped away the mystery he valued and led him to step out of the spotlight for five years
• He will return on screen in the psychological thriller Went Up the Hill, which is scheduled to premiere on August 15, 2025
• Montgomery confirmed he will direct the indie drama The Engagement Party and has reversed an earlier plan by deciding to take an acting role in the film
• He framed the break as a time for personal reflection and career recalibration aimed at securing greater creative control over his projects
• Despite his support for the Duffer Brothers and Stranger Things cast, he will not appear in season five because his character Billy Hargrove was killed off in season three