Stranger Things’ Jamie Campbell Bower Details Vecna’s Transformation

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There’s something upside down about Vecna’s new look.

Fans were shocked by Jamie Campbell Bower‘s return as the villain in the first part of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, with many commenting on his incredibly slim physique.

Amid all the chatter surrounding the new look, Jamie is sharing his secrets. 

When a fan on X noticed Vecna’s changed appearance – commenting on details like the branches on his shoulder and his slimmer waist – show creator Jamie Campbell replied with a playful, one-word answer: “Zumba.”

Following his defeat at the hands of Nancy Wheeler (Natalia Dyer) in season four, Vecna—formerly known as Henry Creel—returned to haunt Hawkins, Indiana. He appeared with more prominent vines covering his shoulders and head, still bearing scars from their previous encounter. However, despite seeming larger overall, he actually appeared physically smaller than when viewers first met him last season.

For the 37-year-old actor, becoming Vecna—a process that takes eight hours of makeup and prosthetics—perfectly captures the character’s frightening power.

I’ve been following Stranger Things closely, and I recently read an interview with Jamie where they talked about Vecna’s appearance. Basically, they explained that what happened at the end of season four – Vecna falling and almost being burned – really affected how he looks now. It’s not just that, though; the longer he’s been away from the human world, the more changed he’s become. It’s fascinating to think about how all of that contributed to his current state!

He explained that the experience had made the person more bitter and unpleasant, changing them for the worse within the difficult environment they found themselves in.

I mention this a lot,” he said. “But I really focused on building up the suit with details and layers so that when I arrived on set, it would have a strong, noticeable impact.

Before fans got a glimpse of his updated appearance, Jamie Campbell Bower hinted at Vecna’s return in season five by sharing the final trailer. In an Instagram post on October 30th, featuring Vecna walking through the Upside Down, Bower wrote, “At long last, we can begin. Hi x,” referencing the show’s official account.

The first volume of Stranger Things is now available, with the second releasing on December 25th and the final volume on December 31st. Before you dive into the story, keep reading to discover more secrets from the world of Stranger Things…

The first volume of Stranger Things is available now, with the second coming out on December 25th and the final volume on December 31st. Before you dive into the story, keep reading to discover more secrets from the world of 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 difficult to convince others to consider something different. He said that when they first suggested Stranger Things, it wasn’t immediately well-received.

The creators of the show originally planned to film on Long Island, but it turned out to be too difficult to do so.

Matt told The Hollywood Reporter they chose Montauk as a filming location because of its beautiful seaside environment, its connection to the fictional town in Jaws – which he called his favorite movie – and the potential for a ‘really cool’ vibe. However, they quickly realized that shooting on Long Island during the winter would be too difficult and costly.

Atlanta ultimately became the home base for production.

Before Netflix decided to air the show, nearly 20 other networks rejected it, as reported by Vulture. Executives at those networks thought viewers wouldn’t connect with a series focused on four child actors.

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

In 2018, at PaleyFest, the actress described shaving her head as the most liberating experience of her life. She explained that letting go of her hair felt like a reveal, forcing her to confront herself and stop hiding. Looking in the mirror, she felt a responsibility to inspire others, realizing 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 actress, Winona Ryder.

She remembered Winona Ryder rocking a pixie cut years ago and admitted she was inspired to try the style herself.

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

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 Wheeler was initially conceived as a more wistful and imaginative character, similar to Mikey from The Goonies. However, after Finn Wolfhard was cast, they noticed his naturally energetic and anxious demeanor. They then tailored the character to fit Finn’s personality and energy, resulting in the Mike viewers ultimately know and love.

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.

After the show featured Eleven’s love for Eggo waffles, Kellogg’s experienced a noticeable boost in sales. They reported a 14 percent increase in consumption towards the end of 2017, coinciding with the release of season two. October of that year also saw a record number of social media mentions for the product.

In early 2018, David Harbour became an internet sensation when he agreed to take a fan’s senior portraits with her. It started when the fan tweeted asking him to do her photos if she got enough retweets. Harbour responded that he’d do it for 25,000 retweets, with the condition he could wear the school sweatshirt and hold a trombone. And true to his promise, he followed through!

He jokingly predicted on Instagram that, 24 years later, he’d be crashing someone else’s high school senior photos, and it seems he was right!

Later that year, Harbour playfully offered to officiate a fan’s wedding if she could get 125,000 retweets and promised him the first piece of cake. He legally became a wedding officiant and even performed the ceremony dressed as his character, Chief Hopper.

Fans often speculated that Eleven might be Hopper’s biological daughter, but he ultimately became her adoptive father. A touching detail in the season two finale revealed Eleven wearing a blue braided bracelet—made from a ribbon belonging to Hopper’s deceased daughter—at her school dance, subtly hinting at their deep connection.

Millie Bobby Brown revealed that her character Eleven’s first kiss with Mike in season one was actually her very first kiss in real life too. She described it as a bizarre experience, saying it felt overwhelming to be kissed with a whole film crew watching.

I remember when they had to kiss again the next season – it was so cute! She actually told everyone what her co-star whispered to her right before the take. It was a really sweet little detail that showed how comfortable they were with each other.

She recounted an awkward first kiss, explaining that he verbally warned her before leaning in. She described his warning as sounding like a ventriloquist, making the experience incredibly strange.

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

Natalia shared with Refinery 29 that she values keeping her personal life—especially her relationships with family and friends—private. However, she also acknowledged that collaborating with someone you live with can be enjoyable, saying, ‘It’s always really fun.’

Surprisingly, Joe Keery’s character, Steve Harrington, wasn’t originally meant to survive the first season of the show.

According to Ross, they quickly grew fond of Joe Keery, the actor playing Steve, during the first season. This affection led them to create a storyline where Steve teams up with Jonathan and Nancy to help resolve the central conflict. Initially, 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 a single season, they had to change that storyline. They quickly realized the show wouldn’t work without Eleven, and Millie Bobby Brown was such a crucial part of that. So, they decided Eleven needed to survive if Stranger Things was going to have a future.

The seventh episode of the second season, called “The Lost Sister,” nearly didn’t make the final cut. The Duffer brothers told Vulture they worried the episode—which focuses on Eleven searching for another child with similar experiences—would disrupt the show’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 ending involving Eleven didn’t work without it. It just didn’t feel right. Ultimately, they decided the episode was essential.

Originally, Eleven was supposed to have a brother. The episode featuring this storyline was initially called “The Lost Brother.”

Okay, so when they decided ANY young actress could audition, it was Linnea Berthelsen who got the role! I was SO excited! That episode, where Eleven meets her ‘sister’ Kali, was amazing. Apparently, Millie Bobby Brown and Linnea just clicked – Matt Duffer said Millie specifically asked to work with Linnea. Seriously, their chemistry was incredible, and it totally made the episode! I knew they’d be perfect together!

Nicola Coughlan, the actress 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 said Hawke was much more suited for it than she would have been.

She explained that actors can learn a lot by looking at roles they didn’t land. It helps them realize rejection isn’t personal – everyone is simply better suited for certain parts than others.

Before landing the role of Sarah on the Netflix series Outer Banks, Madelyn Cline played the character Tina, a popular but unkind student, in the second season of Stranger Things.

As a casting director, I’ve seen a lot of audition tapes, but Dacre Montgomery’s for the role of Billy in ‘Stranger Things’ was memorable! He really wanted to impress the Duffer Brothers, and he told GQ he intentionally created a tape that was a little playful and edgy – he wanted to make a statement and get their attention, and clearly, it worked! He nailed the part of Max’s rebellious older stepbrother.

Okay, so you won’t BELIEVE what Dacre did! He basically filmed himself dancing – and I mean really dancing – to all these amazing 80s songs like “Come on Eileen” and “Hungry Like the Wolf”, and… well, let’s just say he wasn’t wearing much! A G-string, to be exact. He was so nervous sending the tape, he thought it would either ruin his career or be his big break. He said he hoped someone would see something special in him and give him a chance. And thank goodness they did! It totally paid off, and now we get to see him in everything!

As the show began its third season, Deadline reported significant pay raises for the cast. The younger actors saw their per-episode salaries jump from around $30,000 to over $200,000, and potentially as high as $250,000. Winona Ryder and David Harbour were each 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 scheduled for just one episode in season two as Erica, Lucas’s feisty younger sister. However, the Duffer brothers were so impressed with her performance that they kept adding her to more scenes. As a result, she became a regular 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.

It was quite a challenge keeping up with the kids’ growing feet,” costume designer Kim Wilcox explained to TopMob News. “One child, in particular, seemed to outgrow his shoes every three weeks, gaining half a size at a time!” To solve this, Wilcox sourced shoes from brands that offered the same style in a wide range of sizes. “We’d buy five pairs of each size, so we’d always have a replacement when a child had a growth spurt.”

Okay, so the Duffer Brothers? Total geniuses. They were so inspired by classics like The Goonies, E.T., and Stand By Me – seriously, you can feel it! But they weren’t just copying them, you know? They were super careful not to make the references too obvious. It’s like they wanted you to feel the nostalgia without hitting you over the head with it, and honestly, it’s perfect.

Matt Duffer explained to The Daily Beast that when they initially pitched Stranger Things to Netflix, they created a roughly two-and-a-half-minute trailer. It was a montage of around 20-30 films that hinted at the show’s story and the influences behind it. He said those movies were deeply ingrained in their childhoods and a core part of their creative vision. However, during the writing process for each episode, they rarely directly referenced other films. Instead, they focused on developing the story and letting the characters drive the narrative. He felt that constantly referencing other movies would have resulted in a confusing and disjointed final product.

The team initially aimed for a vintage look by minimizing special effects, but they soon discovered that was more challenging than expected.

Initially, we planned to use only practical effects, but we quickly learned how challenging that is. We really respected the teams who created films like The Thing and Alien, but we realized we didn’t have the time or resources. We were writing scripts fast, but there wasn’t enough time for the extensive preparation practical effects require. On set, we found that many ideas that sounded good in theory just weren’t feasible with our limited timeframe.

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 exploring the story and its mysterious world, 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. Although they’ve been trying to keep it under wraps, Matt and Ross confessed that Finn has already figured out what the series will be about, calling the premise ‘very, very different.’ They emphasized that Finn is the only one who knows, aside from themselves.

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2025-12-01 22:21