The Institute Promises Stranger Things Fans a Darker, More Gritty Supernatural Thrill Ride

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Tracking a band of youngsters entangled in mysterious happenings, it’s no surprise that MGM+’s forthcoming show The Institute piques the interest of Stranger Things enthusiasts, with lead actor Ben Barnes hinting at lots of exciting elements for them to savor.

According to the 2019 novel penned by Stephen King, titled “The Institute,” we follow the story of Luke Ellis, who is later revealed as Joe Freeman. After being kidnapped, he wakes up in a facility where children with extraordinary powers such as telepathy and telekinesis are kept.

Simultaneously, Tim Jamieson of Barnes, taking up his new role as the town’s “night enforcer,” finds himself in a community experiencing peculiar occurrences upon his arrival.

He disclosed that the Institute shares a comparable sense of suspense, much like Stranger Things does.

Yet, there’s an understated, somewhat mysterious narrative reminiscent of a detective story. It skillfully combines various elements, some of which may seem familiar, only to twist them slightly.

Although some elements might seem familiar, I assure you this isn’t just copying other works; instead, I hope it offers something new and unique to audiences.

Given the popularity of the Netflix series and the fact that Barnes found appeal in Stranger Things’ narrative elements, he mentioned that such a link between the shows can only be beneficial.

He genuinely enjoyed that television series, especially the initial season, as it shares many similarities with this context, specifically featuring exceptional children, he noted.

“I think King explores those things really thoughtfully, which I love.”

It was almost unavoidable for director Jack Bender to draw parallels between his project and Stranger Things, as he firmly believes that enthusiasts of the Duffer brothers’ work will find much to love in what The Institute has planned.

However, he added that this show will still feel fresh and unique.

Furthermore, let me clarify that I didn’t intend my statement about “crayon” as an insult in any way. On the contrary, I found Stranger Things – the parts I saw – to be exceptionally well-crafted, and, as you might guess, incredibly popular.

However, I must emphasize that our method for this project has consistently leaned towards creating a slightly gloomier or grittier interpretation, giving it a more intense and hard-hitting feel.

Cavell concurred, further stating, “What Jack is expressing aligns perfectly with the topics we’ve discussed previously.

Additionally, I believe it’s significant that our production avoids traditional monstrous creatures. However, we should still portray the ‘monsters’ that are humans.

“And that, I think, is a real difference between what we’re doing and Stranger Things.”

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2025-06-30 03:04