See Stranger Things’ Millie Bobby Brown & David Harbour Reunite

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Millie Bobby Brown and David Harbour’s connection on the red carpet will turn your frown upside down.

Okay, so everyone was saying there was drama between Sadie and Caleb, and I was so worried! But honestly, seeing them arrive together at the season five premiere in LA last night? Total relief! They were both beaming, seriously, all smiles. It was the best thing ever, and I’m officially breathing again. They’re still friends, I knew it!

David and Millie, both dressed in black, showed how close they are as they walked the red carpet together, sharing lots of laughs and posing for pictures. David playfully mentioned Millie’s husband, Jake Bongiovi, while interacting with the photographers.

In a video from TopMob News, David jokingly asked, “Am I as handsome as Jake?” Millie, 21, laughed and moved closer to him. David then playfully admitted, “I’m not. It’s just how I’m made.”

Elsewhere on the red carpet, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, and Gaten Matarazzo – their fellow stars from Stranger Things – posed for photos together.

Last month, people started talking about a possible distance between David and his fellow actors. He didn’t participate in a recent press event with the cast, leading to rumors he’d cancelled his interviews to promote the project.

A source familiar with the situation told TopMob News that the Thunderbolts star was never officially scheduled to appear, so there was no cancellation.

Deadline reports that he’s been filming for Courteney Cox’s upcoming movie, Evil Genius.

Even though David wasn’t included in recent press photos with his former child costars, he’s publicly shared his belief that they’re talented and have bright futures ahead of them.

He told Esquire Spain in a recent interview that he’s always happy to support them, but they’re ultimately forging their own way. He described their journey as challenging, but noted they all appear to be thriving.

As the Emmy-nominated actor approached the conclusion of Stranger Things—the series that launched his international career—he shared that he had complicated feelings about it.

He explained that while challenging times bring sadness and fear, they also create space for personal pursuits. He added that he’s grateful for everything he’s learned during his time working on Stranger Things.

David said that while he believes Stranger Things is a fantastic and memorable show that will likely be remembered for years to come, it will also be very much a reflection of the era in which it was created.

Read on to learn behind-the-scenes secrets about Stranger Things. 

Before creating Stranger Things, brothers Matt and Ross Duffer worked on M. Night Shyamalan’s TV series Wayward Pines. Their initial idea for the show was actually called Montauk.

Matt explained to The Daily Beast in 2016 that once you’ve settled on a title, it can be very difficult to convince others to consider something different. He said that when they first proposed the name Stranger Things, people weren’t immediately enthusiastic.

The creators of the show originally planned to film on Long Island, but it ended up being too difficult to make happen.

You know, we really fell in love with Montauk. The coastal vibe was perfect, and as huge Jaws fans – it’s honestly our favorite movie – the connection to Amity Island felt really special. But practically speaking, filming on Long Island in the winter just wasn’t going to work. It would have been a total nightmare – both miserable for everyone involved and incredibly expensive. We had to be realistic!

Atlanta ultimately became the home base for production.

I was absolutely shocked to learn that nearly 20 networks turned down the show before Netflix took a chance on it! Apparently, a lot of executives didn’t think viewers would connect with a series led by four kids. It’s hard to believe now, considering how popular it became, but they just didn’t see the potential back then.

4. To play Eleven, then 12-year-old Millie Bobby Brown had to say goodbye to her hair.

In 2018, at PaleyFest, the actress shared that shaving her head was the most liberating experience of her life. She explained that when the last of her hair fell, she felt completely exposed, but in a good way – she could no longer hide. Looking in the mirror, she realized her purpose was to inspire others, proving that beauty doesn’t depend on having hair.

She found inspiration for her role in both Charlize Theron’s performance in Mad Max: Fury Road and old yearbook pictures of her fellow actor, Winona Ryder.

She remembered Winona Ryder rocking a pixie cut years ago and admitted she was considering getting the same style herself.

The British actress shared a surprising source she used to nail her American accent: Miley Cyrus’s show, Hannah Montana. She told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that the show was “so goodt” and that “everything about it is amazing.” She credits it with helping her perfect her American pronunciation.

The Duffer brothers used scenes from the movie Stand By Me when auditioning young actors to find the four main child stars for their show.

The brothers initially had a specific vision for the character of Mike. However, that changed after Finn Wolfhard’s audition.

Matt explained to The Daily Beast in 2016 that Mike originally resembled the character Mikey from The Goonies – a bit of a dreamer. However, Finn Wolfhard brought a nervous, energetic quality to the audition, so they tailored the character to fit his personality.

Gaten Matarazzo, who played Dustin, also had a big impact on the development of his character. According to Matt, they initially envisioned Dustin as a typical nerd, but after meeting Gaten, they rewrote parts of the show to better suit his talents and personality.

As a lifestyle expert, I always keep an eye on how pop culture impacts trends, and the ‘Stranger Things’ effect on Eggo waffles was huge. After the show’s popularity soared, Kellogg’s actually saw a 14% jump in Eggo sales towards the end of 2017 – right after season two dropped! October of that year was particularly wild, with Eggo getting more buzz on social media than ever before. It just goes to show how a simple product placement can really resonate with audiences.

In early 2018, David Harbour became an internet sensation when he agreed to take a fan’s senior portraits with her. It all started when she tweeted, asking how many retweets it would take to convince him. He responded, saying he’d do it for 25,000 retweets, and even wanted to wear the school sweatshirt and hold a trombone! True to his promise, he followed through.

He jokingly predicted on Instagram that he’d be the one to photobomb someone else’s high school senior pictures, even 24 years in the future.

Later that year, Harbour playfully used social media again, offering to officiate a fan’s wedding if she got 125,000 retweets and promised him the first piece of cake. He became legally ordained and performed the ceremony dressed as his character, Chief Hopper.

Fans often wondered if Eleven might be Hopper’s biological daughter, but he ultimately became a father figure to her. A touching detail in the season two finale revealed Eleven wearing a blue braided bracelet – a meaningful accessory Hopper always wore, made from a ribbon belonging to his deceased daughter – to her school dance.

Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, had never kissed anyone before filming the first season of the show. She described her first kiss with co-star Finn Wolfhard (Mike) as a really unusual experience, saying it felt overwhelming to have so many people watching.

I remember when they had to kiss again the next season, she told us what her co-star had actually whispered to her right before! It was such a funny little detail and really showed their chemistry.

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! She told Jimmy Fallon that he told her he was about to kiss her! Like, he actually said, ‘I’m coming in!’ But get this – she said he said it like a ventriloquist! Can you even imagine?! It was the most bizarre, amazing thing ever, seriously!

Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton, who star as a couple on the show, started dating in 2016 and have generally chosen to keep their relationship out of the public eye.

Natalia explained to Refinery 29 that she values keeping her personal life—family and friendships—private. However, she also shared that collaborating with someone you know well can be enjoyable. ‘It’s always really fun,’ she said.

I still can’t believe it, but apparently, Steve Harrington – Joe Keery just nails the role, honestly – was almost killed off after the very first season! Like, they were actually planning for him to die! It’s insane to think about now, because he’s become such a huge part of the show, but yeah, they didn’t originally think he’d make it past year one. I’m so glad they changed their minds!

According to Ross, they quickly grew fond of Joe Keery, who played Steve, while filming the first season. This led them to create a storyline where Steve teams up with Jonathan and Nancy to help resolve the central conflict. Originally, Steve was intended to be a stereotypical, unpleasant athlete, but Keery brought much more depth to the character.

18. Also slated to perish was Eleven. Yes, really. 

In the book Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down, Ross Duffer explained that the original plan was for Eleven to sacrifice herself to save everyone. However, when they realized the show might continue beyond one season, they had to change that storyline. They realized the show wouldn’t work without Eleven, and Millie Bobby Brown was proving to be a particularly talented performer. Ultimately, they decided Eleven had to return if Stranger Things continued.

The seventh episode of the second season, called “The Lost Sister,” nearly didn’t make the final cut. The Duffer brothers, in an interview with Vulture, explained they worried the episode – which focuses on Eleven searching for another child with similar experiences – would disrupt the story’s flow.

Matt explained that as they started writing the episode, they questioned whether it was even necessary. They seriously considered cutting it entirely, but the planned ending involving Eleven didn’t work without it – it just didn’t feel right. Ultimately, they decided the episode was essential.

20. Eleven’s sibling was written to be a boy, with the episode originally titled “The Lost Brother.” 

Once the audition was open to all young actresses, Linnea Berthelsen won the role. The resulting episode showed Eleven meeting her “sister,” Kali. According to Matt, Linnea and Millie (who plays Eleven) had a strong connection, and Millie specifically requested to work with Linnea.

Nicola Coughlan, known for her role in Bridgerton, originally tried out for the part of Robin. However, she later landed the role of Penelope Featherington. Maya Hawke ended up getting the part of Robin, and Nicola has said Hawke was much more suited for it than she would have been.

As someone who’s been in the entertainment industry a long time, I’ve learned a really valuable lesson that I share with actors all the time. When you don’t get a role, don’t take it personally! Seriously, review the performances of the people who did get the part. You’ll quickly realize it’s not about you being ‘good enough’ or not; it’s simply about being the right fit for that specific role. We all have strengths, and some roles just won’t play to those strengths – and that’s perfectly okay.

I remember being so surprised to learn that Madelyn Cline, who absolutely kills it as Sarah Cameron in Outer Banks on Netflix, was actually one of the popular, not-so-nice girls at Hawkins High back in season two of Stranger Things! She played Tina, and honestly, it’s wild to see her in such a different role now.

To land the role of Billy, the rebellious older stepbrother of Max (Sadie Sink), Australian actor Dacre Montgomery created a playful and somewhat edgy audition video. He told GQ he hoped to really impress the Duffer brothers with it.

Okay, so you won’t BELIEVE what Dacre did! He seriously filmed himself dancing – like, really dancing – to the most amazing 80s songs, “Come on Eileen” and “Hungry Like the Wolf”… and he did it wearing basically nothing! Just a G-string! He was so worried about sending the video, he thought it would ruin his career! He said he figured it was either total disaster or someone would finally see something special in him and give him a chance. And thank goodness they did! It totally paid off, he’s amazing!

As the show began its third season, Deadline reported significant pay raises for the cast. The younger actors saw their per-episode salary jump from around $30,000 to over $200,000, and potentially as high as $250,000. Winona Ryder and David Harbour were earning approximately $300,000 to $350,000 per episode, while Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton were making between $100,000 and $150,000.

Priah Ferguson was originally only scheduled to appear in a single episode of season two as Erica, Lucas’s feisty younger sister. However, the Duffer brothers were so impressed with her performance that they continued to include her, eventually making her a main cast member in the following season.

Because the young actors were still growing during filming, the costume designers had a hard time making sure their clothes fit consistently from scene to scene.

Costume designer Kim Wilcox described a surprising challenge during production. She told TopMob News they had a young actor who outgrew shoes incredibly quickly – about half a size every three weeks! To solve this, Wilcox sourced shoes from brands that offered the same style in a wide range of sizes. They would purchase five pairs at a time, ensuring they always had a replacement when the actor’s feet grew.

The Duffer brothers, while inspired by films like The Goonies, E.T., and Stand By Me, made sure their references weren’t too obvious.

When pitching the project to Netflix, we created a roughly two-and-a-half-minute trailer featuring snippets of about 20-30 films, aiming to convey the essence of Stranger Things. However, Matt explained to The Daily Beast that these were just initial ideas – films that deeply influenced us growing up and were ingrained in our creative process. Once we started writing individual episodes, we rarely referenced those movies directly. Our focus shifted to simply telling the story and letting the characters drive the narrative. Too much direct influence would have resulted in a disjointed and confusing final product.

As a big fan, I remember the creators really wanted to make this feel like those classic films – they initially planned to avoid a lot of flashy effects. But honestly, they soon discovered it was way harder than they thought to pull that off! It was a challenge to get that old-school vibe without any modern touches.

Initially, we wanted to rely entirely on practical effects, but we quickly learned how challenging that would be. We really gained a new appreciation for the teams who created films like The Thing and Alien. Practical effects require a lot of time and preparation. We were writing scripts fast, but didn’t have the six months needed to properly prepare for those kinds of effects. When we got to set, many of the ideas that seemed good in theory just weren’t feasible given our time constraints.

The creators, the Duffer brothers, originally planned for the show to last five seasons. According to Netflix executive Matthew Thunell, many of their ideas from 2015 are now coming to fruition as the series nears its conclusion. Variety magazine reported that each episode of season four cost around $30 million to produce.

Although the creators of Stranger Things, the Duffer brothers, know how the show will eventually end, they aren’t finished with the story or the world of the Upside Down.

In an interview with Variety, the creators revealed they have a spin-off idea they’re really enthusiastic about, but it’s still in the very early stages – they haven’t even shared the concept yet. While they’ve been trying to keep it under wraps, Matt and Ross confessed that Finn has already figured out what the series is about, describing it as “very, very different.” They emphasized that Finn is the only one who knows the premise so far.

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2025-11-07 06:49