‘Stranger Things’: 10 behind-the-scenes facts you should know
Not every show on Netflix is born with the capability to continue rocking for a decade. But Stranger Things, somehow, did it, and keeps doing it.
Since premiering in 2016, the sci-fi series has evolved into a cultural phenomenon, and every new season has come with an expanded folklore, in turn, enriching its mythology. Although it may have started out as a fantasy-mystery show, its cultural impact was never restricted to the small screens or the streaming world.
From comics and mobile games to its own official Dungeons & Dragons tabletop game and a Broadway play, Stranger Things has been anything but stagnant.
While fans must know all about this universe in and out, here are 10 surprising behind-the-scenes facts that they might not know about.
10 lesser-known behind-the-scenes Stranger Things facts
Nicola Coughlan auditioned for Robin Buckley
Nicola Coughlan, famously known for portraying Penelope Featherington in Netflix’s beloved period drama, Bridgerton, was just steps away from joining the Stranger Things gang. According to her conversation with Buzzfeed, Coughlan auditioned for the role of Robin Buckley, which eventually went to Maya Hawke, as we know.
“She was far better than I ever would have been. It’s a good lesson to actors: Watch the stuff you didn’t get, because you’ll totally understand how it’s not personal,” she said.
Stranger Things was originally set in Montauk, New York
If you think Stranger Things was always supposed to shake up Hawkins, Indiana, you’re wrong. In an interview with Vulture in 2016, the Duffer brothers revealed that the script of the beloved Netflix series was originally set in Montauk, located at the end of Long Island in New York. “It was set in Montauk. We always loved that idea of the Amity feel in Jaws, in a coastal town,” they said.
In fact, when Netflix acquired the show in 2015, it was also titled Montauk. Deadline published a piece on its development, writing, “Described as a love letter to the ‘80s classics that captivated a generation, the series is set in 1980 Montauk, Long Island, where a young boy vanishes into thin air.”
The script was rejected an unimaginable number of times
Before Netflix acquired what became one of the biggest cornerstones in pop culture, the Duffer brothers revealed to Rolling Stone in 2016 that the script was rejected “15-20 times.” They shed light on how Hollywood executives were not really keen on welcoming a story driven by a flock of multigenerational characters.
“You either gotta make it into a kids show or make it about this Hopper character investigating paranormal activity around the town,” they recalled being advised.
Barb was Shannon Purser’s first role, which got her an Emmy nomination
Barb was that iconic Stranger Things character who barely survived a season and still led to a huge outcry with fans vouching for justice with hashtags online. What most fans, however, may not know is that Barb was actually Shannon Purser’s first role ever. “Walking into not only my first production, but also one on this scale was incredible,” she revealed to Esquire in 2016.
Then again, the character’s impact wasn’t limited to fans rooting for her. She also earned an Emmy nomination for the character, and many Hollywood celebrities extended their support towards her.
Steve and Dustin’s romance wasn’t scripted
Some things in Stranger Things are truly written in the stars, and one of them is surely Steve and Dustin’s friendship or bromance, whatever you call it. It turns out that the chemistry was not originally part of the script, but something that happened incidentally. In a conversation with Variety before the release of season two, Matt Duffer said, “My favourite this year is the Dustin and Steve combination, which actually wasn’t in the initial pitch to Netflix.”
“Steve was kind of getting sidelined. He had nothing really interesting to do. And Dustin found himself cornered with no one to go to, and that led to this Dustin and Steve team up, which turned out to be so much fun,” he continued. While their chemistry may not have been a part of their initial blueprint for the show, the Duffer brothers acknowledged that they always knew they’d be fan favourites.
The main title sequence is a tribute to a horror legend
The glowing letters of Stranger Things’ opening salvo, accompanied by an ominous beat, which actually echoes the works of horror legend, Richard Greenberg. Best known for creating gripping opening sequences, particularly in the horror genre, Greenberg was also nominated for an Academy Award for his work on Predator. Some of his other works include Alien, Dracula, and The Matrix.
The Duffer Brothers opened up about their inspiration to Entertainment Weekly in 2016, saying, “Greenberg was known for using the lettering of the movie titles to create hypnotic combinations of movement and colour and shadow. The man is a genius, and we hope we captured a little bit of his magic.”
The US Department of Energy’s response to Stranger Things
In Stranger Things, the Hawkins National Laboratory is actually a secret segment of the US Department of Energy. So, to prevent people from fearing the infamous agency, the actual Department of Energy wrote a cheeky article on its website.
“The energy department doesn’t mess with monsters”, and “National laboratory scientists aren’t evil – they’re actually nice (and smart)! While the Energy Department doesn’t chart parallel universes, it does help power the exploration of new worlds… For instance, the Energy Department makes nuclear batteries called Multi-Mission Radiosotope Thermoelectric Generator for NASA,” the article read.
Sadie Sink almost lost Max’s role
According to Sadie Sink’s conversation with Fashion Magazine in 2022, the producers on the show were initially uncertain about auditioning her for the role of Max, since she was older than the other kids at the time. “I just begged and pleaded with them to give me more material so I could show them something fresh,” she recounted.
Ultimately, she got an opportunity for a chemistry read with Gaten Matarazzo and Caleb McLaughlin, and subsequently, she landed the role. She was introduced in Stranger Things season two as Max Mayfield.
Dacre Montgomery’s season four cameo was Zoom-directed
Dacre Montgomery’s Stranger Things arc as Max’s bully brother was brief, but iconic. As many may recall, despite dying in the third season, Billy appears in a cameo in the fourth instalment. However, since the fourth season was shot during the COVID-19 pandemic, and Montgomery was in Australia, he was unable to make it to Atlanta for filming.
In a conversation with Entertainment Weekly, series director and producer Shawn Levy recounted just how tough the entire process of making the scene was. “With the clock running down, we had no choice but to have me direct over Zoom [with Montgomery] in Australia on a soundstage while I had shot the scene in a cemetery with Sadie Sink a year earlier,” he said.
Steve’s redemption arc was not part of the original plan
The reputation, with which Steve Harrington began his Stranger Things journey, and the one he’s now famous for, is probably poles apart. But originally, he was supposed to be pretty much of a jerk. In 2016, Ross Duffer told Variety, “If you read the pilot, he’s the biggest douchebag on the planet.” However, it turns out that the creators also eventually had a change of heart, thanks to Joe Keery.
“A lot of credit goes to Joe Keery because he was much more likeable and charming than we originally had envisioned,” he continued.
