These Stranger Things Secrets Would Give Even Vecna Chills

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Grab your Eggos and don’t let go because we’re finally heading back to the Upside Down. 

Developed by the Duffer brothers, Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, the series titled “Stranger Things” premiered in 2016, swiftly captivating audiences with its evocative throwback vibe, heartfelt friendships, and intriguing supernatural enigmas unfolding in Hawkins, Indiana. The young ensemble—Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp—rapidly gained popularity, David Harbour emerged as a heartthrob, and Winona Ryder experienced a significant career resurgence.

Approaching ten years since its debut, viewers are beginning to bid farewell to Eleven, Mike, Chief Hopper, and their friends as Season Five is set to premiere. On July 16, Netflix has unveiled a fresh trailer for this final adventure.

The most recent preview features Joe Keery’s character, Steve Harrington, joining forces on a covert operation with Dustin (Matarazzo), Mike (Wolfhard), Will (Schnapp), Will’s mother Joyce (Ryder), and Hopper (Harbour).

Later, we find Nancy (Natalia Dyer) and Jonathan (Charlie Heaton) on a personal mission of theirs. As for Lucas (McLaughlin), he’s attending to Max (Sadie Sink), who unfortunately still lies comatose due to the actions of Eleven (Brown).

You’ll need to wait until November 26 to discover what’s truly unfolding in Hawkins. On Christmas Day, Volume II will be released, followed by Volume III on New Year’s Eve, concluding the year 2025 and the series.

Until that point, we’ll be giving you a sneak peek and unveiling hidden truths about the series, such as the characters who were initially intended to perish by the end of season one, as well as the performers who didn’t get the role after their tryouts.

Delve deeper into intriguing trivia surrounding the hit series “Stranger Things“! Learn about its initial title and the performer who danced in a G-string for their part, an event that’s not entirely unprecedented.

Following their collaboration on M. Night Shyamalan’s Fox series “Wayward Pines,” the writing duo Matt and Ross Duffer developed the idea for “Stranger Things,” which was originally titled “Montauk.

Matt shared with The Daily Beast in 2016 that it’s quite challenging when a concept, like a title, has a strong hold on your mind. It’s extremely difficult to convince and gain acceptance from others about an alternative title. He also mentioned that when they first chose the title Stranger Things, it was initially met with resistance.

Initially, the Duffers planned to shoot the series on Long Island, yet they found it excessively difficult in the end.

As a die-hard enthusiast, let me share my thoughts: I was thrilled about Montauk for its breathtaking coastal charm, as it served as the inspiration for Amity – a setting that’s deeply intertwined with our all-time favorite film, Jaws. Imagine my excitement when I realized this connection! However, the thought of shooting in or around Long Island during winter was daunting; it would have been unbearably cold and costly, making the experience less than enjoyable.

Atlanta ultimately became the home base for production.

Initially, around 20 different networks declined the series, as reported by Vulture. These executives believed that viewers might struggle to connect with a show centered around four kids. (Netflix eventually took up the project.)

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

In 2018 at PaleyFest, the actress stated that shaving her head was the most empowering experience of her life. With every last hair falling away, she felt exposed and vulnerable – no longer able to hide behind her tresses as she once did. But when she gazed into the mirror, she discovered a newfound sense of purpose: to inspire. She emphasized that beauty doesn’t require hair; it’s an inner radiance that shines through.

5. She found inspiration from Charlize Theron’s portrayal in ‘Mad Max: Fury Road’, along with the vintage photographs of her co-star, Winona Ryder, from her school days.

Winona had a stylish pixie cut in the past, which she mentioned, and she mused that perhaps she could revive that look!

6. The British actress shared that she sought an unexpected influence to hone her American accent: Miley Cyrus’s character from “Hannah Montana”. She praised it during her appearance on “The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon”, saying, “Everything about it is fantastic…And I got the American accent.

7. The Duffer brothers requested that potential child actors perform scenes from Stand By Me during their auditions in order to select their primary four.

8. The brothers held a unique vision for their character named ‘Mike’. However, this notion changed when they heard Finn Wolfhard’s audition.

Or simply:

8. Initially, the brothers envisioned Mike differently. But that was before hearing Finn Wolfhard’s audition.

In 2016, Matt shared with The Daily Beast that Mike, originally, was a lot like the dreamy, sighing character Mikey from The Goonies. However, Finn, who played Mike, had an anxious, restless vibe, which the creators found fascinating and tailored the character to suit his personality.

Another performer who significantly shaped his role was Gaten Matarazzo, portraying Dustin. As Matt put it, “I don’t believe we truly grasped who that character was initially. He started out as a more stereotypical nerd, but once we met Gaten, we essentially molded the show around him.

I, an ardent fan, can’t help but shout out my gratitude to Eleven for her undeniable love for Eggo waffles! It seems that Kellogg’s took notice too, as they experienced a remarkable 14% surge in sales towards the end of 2017, right after season two was unveiled. To top it off, October became the month with the most buzz about their product on social media platforms – all thanks to Eleven and her waffle-loving ways!

In the early months of 2018, David Harbour became an internet sensation when he agreed to take a fan’s senior portraits following her request. She had posted on Twitter, “If I get 25k retweets, will you take my senior photos with me?”, and he responded, “Deal! I get to wear the school sweatshirt and hold a trombone.” True to his word, the actor fulfilled this unique promise.

In a post on Instagram, he humorously stated, “Predicted as the one to steal a classmate’s graduation pictures 24 years down the line.

12. Later in the year, Harbour continued his social media antics, this time officiating a viewer’s wedding after receiving 125,000 retweets and the first piece of wedding cake. He became an ordained official and conducted the ceremony while dressed as Chief Hopper.

13. Fans often speculated that Eleven might be Hopper’s biological daughter, but he eventually took on a fatherly role towards her instead. In a touching nod to this connection, Eleven donned a blue bracelet similar to one Hopper consistently wore, which was made from his deceased daughter’s hair ribbon, during the school dance at the end of season two.

Eleven’s first-ever kiss in season one was with Mike. She confessed it was an unusual feeling, “Like having 250 pairs of eyes watching you kiss someone, it’s quite overwhelming, isn’t it?

When it was time for them to kiss again during the next season, she disclosed what her co-star had whispered into her ear.

During her 2017 interview on “The Tonight Show”, she clarified that he indicated he was about to kiss her by saying, “I’m coming in,” and then acted just like a ventriloquist, making it an incredibly surprising moment.

As a die-hard Stranger Things fan, I’ve been smitten by the captivating duo of Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton, portraying the adorable pair, Nancy and Jonathan. Whispers about their off-screen romance started swirling in 2016, but they’ve largely preferred to keep their love life beneath the radar.

Natalia shared with Refinery 29 that there are certain things which hold great significance in her life, whether it’s spending time with family or friends. She added, “It can be quite intriguing to collaborate with someone you share a home with; it’s always an enjoyable experience.

It might surprise you to know that the character Joe Keery‘s stylish Steve Harrington was initially not intended to survive beyond the first season.

During the filming of season one, we grew fond of him, leading us to create a storyline in which he assists Jonathan and Nancy in saving the day. As it turned out, Steve was initially meant to be a typical jock with a bad attitude, but Joe proved to be much more complex than that. (Ross explained this to The Hollywood Reporter.)

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

Ross explained in the 2018 book “Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down” that Eleven intended to give her life to save the day. From the beginning, this was the plan. However, when they realized that the show might continue beyond one season, they chose to keep it uncertain because they understood that Stranger Things wouldn’t truly thrive without Eleven. As they grew more certain about a potential continuation of “Stranger Things”, they knew that Eleven had to return, as they recognized how exceptional Millie was in the role.

The seventh episode of season two, known as “The Lost Sister,” nearly didn’t air due to the Duffer brothers expressing concerns that the narrative, focusing on Eleven embarking on a journey to locate another lab-tested child, might disrupt the overall flow of the storyline.

In the stage of composing the episode, Matt shared, our team pondered if it was truly essential or not. Initially, we contemplated removing the entire episode, but the conclusion involving Eleven didn’t resonate at all, it simply fell flat. So, in the end, we concluded that we needed it after all.

20. Originally titled “The Lost Brother,” the character portrayed as Eleven’s sibling was intended to be male.

After making the audition open for all young actors, it turned out to be Linnea Berthelsen who secured the role. In the end, the episode concluded with Eleven encountering her “sister” Kali, a character with whom Linnea shared a strong bond. Matt stated, “There was a real connection between Linnea and Millie,” with Millie expressing her desire to work alongside Linnea on the project.

Initially, Nicola Coughlan, who stars in Bridgerton, tried out for the character Robin but ended up landing the role of Penelope Featherington much later. Maya Hawke eventually got the part that Coughlan had initially auditioned for, with Coughlan admitting that Hawke was “far more suited to the role than I ever could have been.

She noted, “It’s beneficial for actors to learn: Observe the roles you didn’t land, as you’ll grasp that it’s not about you being rejected; instead, you might be suitable for certain roles but not others.

Prior to her role as Sarah in Netflix’s “Outer Banks,” Madelyn Cline was previously seen as the notorious Tina, the mean girl at Hawkins High School, during season 2.

To secure the role of Billy, the rebellious older stepbrother of Max (portrayed by Sadie Sink), Australian actor Dacre Montgomery submitted an entertaining yet somewhat risqué audition video. He shared with GQ that he aimed to create a bit of a stir with the Duffers (the show’s creators).

Filming himself doing a dance routine clad only in a thong to popular 1980s tunes such as “Come on Eileen” and “Hungry Like the Wolf” was something Dacre contemplated sending. He voiced concern over this action, stating, “Either I’ll never work again or someone will see something unique in me and offer me an opportunity.” Thankfully, his gamble proved successful.

As we approach season three, Deadline revealed that the cast members received substantial salary hikes. The younger cast members saw their earnings skyrocket from approximately $30,000 per episode to over $200,000, with potential increases up to $250,000. Contrastingly, Winona and David were reportedly earning around $300,000 to $350,000 per episode, while Natalia and Charlie were taking home between $100,000 and $150,000 per episode.

25. Originally, Priah Ferguson was slated for a single appearance in season two, playing the role of Erica, Lucas’ spirited younger sister. However, the Duffer brothers consistently found opportunities to incorporate her into more scenes. Eventually, she became a regular cast member starting from the next season.

During the production of the series, since the young actors were still maturing, the costume department encountered a distinct problem in maintaining consistency with their costumes.

As a lifestyle enthusiast, I can relate to the dilemma faced by many families: children growing out of their shoes at an alarming rate! Just recently, I had a heart-to-heart with costume designer Kim Wilcox, who shared her extraordinary experience dealing with this issue. “It’s mind-boggling,” she said, “We once had a child who simply couldn’t keep shoes on for more than three weeks; every time we’d measure him, he’d grown a half-size!”

In response to this challenge, Kim cleverly sought out heritage brands that consistently produce multiple sizes of their products. Her strategy? Stockpile five pairs at a time so that when the child grew, they would have a replacement ready! This ingenious solution has proven invaluable for her family and could be just what parents everywhere need to tackle this pesky problem.

27. As they paid tribute to The Goonies, E.T., and Stand By Me, the Duffers took care to avoid making their homages too obvious.

In our proposal to Netflix, we included a comprehensive two-and-a-half-minute trailer that combined approximately 20 to 30 movies as a way to convey the narrative of “Stranger Things”. These films were deeply embedded in our childhood memories. However, when it comes to brainstorming specific episodes in the writers’ room, there’s minimal discussion about referencing other movies. Instead, we focus on telling the story and allowing the characters to drive the plot direction. Otherwise, it could become a confusing mishmash. Matt shared this insight with The Daily Beast.

28. The creative crew aimed to minimize the use of special effects for a retro vibe, yet soon discovered just how challenging that approach could be.

What’s fascinating is that our initial intention was to stick with purely realistic effects. However, what we discovered (and it gave us immense respect for the creators of movies like The Thing, Alien, and others) is that creating practical effects is incredibly challenging. It requires a considerable amount of time and planning. We were churning out scripts as fast as possible, but they didn’t have half a year to prepare these scenes. When we arrived on set, many ideas that seemed perfect for the old-school approach, we simply didn’t have enough time to execute.

29. From the start, the Duffers planned a five-season storyline for the show. As we approach the end of this series, it seems much of what they had visualized back in 2015 is now unfolding, as stated by Netflix executive Matthew Thunell to Variety. Notably, each episode in season four reportedly cost $30 million.

Although a conclusion for “Stranger Things” has been planned, the Duffer brothers aren’t quite ready to bid farewell to the world of the Upside Down just now.

In an email interview with Variety, they shared their thrilling concept for a new spin-off. “We’ve got something up our sleeves, but we haven’t let anyone in on the secret yet, not even put it down on paper,” they said. However, Matt and Ross hinted that Finn has already deduced the basic plot, which they characterized as remarkably distinct from anything they’ve done before. The duo further clarified, “Besides Finn, no one else knows about it!

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2025-07-16 20:18