Stranger Things’ Duffer Brothers Began Finale Without Finished Script

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Getting the Upside Down right-side up was harder than expected.

Following the end of Stranger Things‘ fifth and final season, the show’s creators, brothers Ross and Matt Duffer, explained the challenges they faced finishing the last episodes due to a very hectic production schedule.

In the documentary One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, Matt revealed they began filming without a completed script for the final episode. He admitted it was nerve-wracking, as they really wanted to nail the ending – it was the most crucial script of the entire season.

Because the final season required a large production team, the actors, who are 41 years old, needed to finish their scenes quickly to keep everything on schedule.

Matt remembered a particularly challenging time working on episode eight. They were receiving constant feedback from both the production team and Netflix, creating incredibly difficult writing conditions. It wasn’t just the pressure to deliver a good script, but the sheer volume of notes and requests coming in all at once was unprecedented.

We spent more time on this episode with the writers than on any other, carefully crafting each scene to make it the best it could be. We’ve always found that staying true to the show is the key to our success.

But that doesn’t mean the Duffer Brothers didn’t know where the story was going.

Matt explained that the plan is already complete. He just needs to actually write it all down, but they’re running short on time. He shares two children with his fiancée, Sarah Hindsgaul, who designs hair for the show Stranger Things.

He remembered a time when he worked every day of the week, but says he can’t maintain that pace anymore. Now that he has two children, he finds it difficult to balance the demands of his career with family life.

The biggest disagreement among the writers revolved around Eleven’s ending. The finale left viewers questioning whether Millie Bobby Brown’s character had truly sacrificed herself to defeat the Upside Down and save everyone.

Matt, while in the writer’s room, expressed his difficulty with the show’s direction, saying, “I’m really struggling with how to move forward.” He explained that as the series continues, it becomes increasingly challenging to resolve all the storylines and give satisfying conclusions to the characters. It’s also hard to balance fulfilling audience expectations with still keeping things unpredictable and surprising.

The Duffer Brothers understood the final episode needed to deliver for fans after nearly ten years of the show. As Matt Duffer explained, they were worried about ruining everything, because disappointing endings can tarnish even the most beloved series.

As they continued to refine the final scene, they had to start filming. This was because the scene featuring Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) leading her classmates away from the Creel house and towards the cave needed to appear as if it was shot during summer.

The biggest disagreement among the writers revolved around Eleven’s fate. The series ended with viewers questioning whether the teenager (Millie Bobby Brown) truly sacrificed herself to defeat the Upside Down and save everyone.

Matt, while in the writer’s room, confessed he was struggling with the show’s direction. He explained that as the story goes on, it becomes increasingly difficult to resolve all the plotlines and character developments in a satisfying way, especially while still keeping the audience engaged and surprised. He wondered how to balance meeting expectations with delivering unexpected twists.

The Duffer Brothers understood that the final episode needed to be strong to properly finish the series after so many years. As Matt Duffer explained, they were worried about repeating the mistakes of other shows where a disappointing ending ruins everything people loved about it.

As they refined the final scene, they had to start filming because it needed to look like summer. The scene shows Holly Wheeler (Nell Fisher) leading her classmates away from the Creel house and into the cave.

While filming, Ross admitted to the crew that he hadn’t finished reading scenes eight through ten and they were currently filming it. He added that this was a new experience for him, and he wasn’t enjoying it.

In the end, the brothers successfully finished telling their incredible story. On the last day of shooting, they shared a heartfelt thank you with the entire crew.

Matt spoke emotionally about the team, saying, “This is truly the best crew we’ve ever had the pleasure of working with.” He explained that their dedication and enthusiasm were felt throughout the entire process. “We were a bit lost at the start, but I learned so much from everyone, and we all became great friends.”

Now that the story of Hawkins and the Upside Down has come to an end, discover the making 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 it’s incredibly difficult to convince people to accept a different title once you’ve become attached to one. He said that when they first proposed Stranger Things, it was a struggle to get others on board.

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, and also because it inspired the town of Amity in their favorite movie, Jaws. However, they realized shooting on Long Island during the winter would be both unpleasant and costly, making the location impractical.

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 led by four kids.

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 revealing her true self, as she could no longer hide behind it. Looking in the mirror afterward, she felt a responsibility to inspire others, realizing that beauty doesn’t depend on having hair.

I was so fascinated to learn that the actress really looked to Charlize Theron’s performance in Mad Max: Fury Road for inspiration! It was a huge influence on her work. She also found a surprising source of ideas – old yearbook photos of her co-star, Winona Ryder. It’s cool to see where she pulls her creativity from!

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

The British actress shared a surprising secret to her perfect American accent: she studied Miley Cyrus’s performance in Hannah Montana. She told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that the show was incredibly helpful, saying, “It’s so good… Like the film, everything. Everything about it is amazing. And I got the American accent from it.”

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 had a specific vision for the character of Mike, but that changed as soon as Finn Wolfhard auditioned.

Oh my gosh, it’s so cool to learn how Mike Wheeler came to be! Apparently, originally he was supposed to be this quiet, dreamy type – like Mikey from The Goonies, you know? But then they cast Finn Wolfhard, and he just had this energy – all nervous and kind of jumpy – and it was perfect! The Duffer Brothers totally rewrote Mike’s character to fit Finn’s personality. It’s amazing how much the actor influenced the role, honestly! It just shows how perfect the casting was.

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

After the show featured Eleven’s love for Eggo waffles, Kellogg’s experienced a notable boost in sales. They reported a 14 percent increase in consumption towards the end of 2017, coinciding with the release of the second season. 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 after agreeing to take a fan’s senior portraits with her. It all started when she tweeted asking him to do so, offering a retweet goal. Harbour responded that he’d do it for 25,000 retweets, with the added condition of wearing the school sweatshirt and holding a trombone. True to his promise, he followed through!

Oh my gosh, you HAVE to see this! He actually posted on Instagram, and it was the perfect self-deprecating joke. He said he was voted ‘most likely to hijack someone’s high school senior photos 24 years later!’ Seriously, it’s SO him, and it’s hilarious. I’ve saved the screenshot, obviously. It just proves how amazing and wonderfully weird he is!

Later that year, Harbour playfully offered to marry a fan if she got 125,000 retweets and promised him the first piece of wedding cake. He quickly became officially ordained and ended up performing the ceremony dressed as his character, Chief Hopper.

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

Oh my gosh, you will NOT believe this! I just found out that Millie Bobby Brown’s first ever kiss was with Finn Wolfhard, as Eleven and Mike in season one! She actually said it was so weird having a whole crew – like, 250 people! – watching. Can you imagine?! She said it was totally a ‘Whoa!’ moment. I’m seriously losing it right now, it’s just… everything!

She shared what her co-star secretly told her right before they had to kiss for a second time on the show.

She recounted an awkward first kiss, explaining that he verbally warned her before leaning in. She described him saying something like, ‘I’m coming in,’ but delivering the line in a strangely stilted way, almost as if he were a ventriloquist. She called the whole experience bizarre.

I’ve been a huge fan of Nancy and Jonathan from ‘Stranger Things’ since day one, and it was so cool to learn that Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton, the actors who play them, actually started dating in 2016! They’ve always been really private about their relationship, which I totally respect, but it’s sweet knowing there’s a real connection behind their on-screen chemistry.

Natalia shared with Refinery29 that she values keeping her personal life—especially relationships with family and friends—private. However, she also noted that collaborating with someone you see outside of work can be enjoyable, saying, ‘It’s always really fun.’

Surprisingly, Joe Keery’s character, the popular Steve Harrington, was originally intended to die at the end of the first season of the show.

According to Ross, they quickly grew fond of Joe Keery, who played Steve, while filming 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. 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 decided against a definitive ending for her character. They understood that Stranger Things wouldn’t succeed without Eleven, and they quickly recognized Millie Bobby Brown’s exceptional talent. Ultimately, they knew Eleven needed to survive if the show was going to have a future.

The seventh episode of the second season, “The Lost Sister,” nearly didn’t air. The Duffer brothers told Vulture they worried the episode—which focuses on Eleven’s search for another child with similar experiences—would disrupt the story’s flow.

Matt said 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 actors, Linnea Berthelsen was cast in the role. The episode eventually 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, 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 role of Robin, and Nicola has said Hawke was much more suited for it than she would have been.

She explained that actors can learn a lot from roles they don’t land. Seeing why another actor was chosen helps you realize it’s not a rejection of you – you simply weren’t the best fit for that particular part. Everyone has strengths and weaknesses, and not every role will be right for every actor.

Before starring as Sarah in the Netflix series Outer Banks, Madelyn Cline played the role of Tina, a popular but unkind student at Hawkins High, in season two of the show.

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

Dacre took a big chance by filming himself dancing to 80s hits like “Come on Eileen” and “Hungry Like the Wolf” while wearing very little clothing – just a G-string. He worried about sending the video, thinking it could end his career, but he hoped someone would recognize his talent and give him an opportunity. Luckily, his gamble worked out.

As the show entered 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 scheduled for just one episode in season two as Erica, Lucas’s spirited 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 next 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, outgrew his shoes every three weeks, gaining about 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 purchase five pairs of each size, so we’d always have a replacement when a child had a growth spurt.”

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

When we initially presented the project to Netflix, we created a lengthy, two-and-a-half-minute trailer. It combined clips and ideas from around 20 to 30 films to give a sense of the Stranger Things story, but these were mostly concepts we had in mind, explained Matt in an interview with The Daily Beast. These films were a huge influence on us growing up and are deeply ingrained in our creative process. However, once we started writing individual episodes, we rarely discussed other movies. Our focus shifted to simply telling the story and letting the characters drive the plot. Otherwise, it would have become confusing and disjointed.

The team initially aimed for a retro look by minimizing special effects, but they soon realized it was much harder than they expected.

Originally, 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 behind films like The Thing and Alien. Practical effects take a lot of time and careful planning. We were developing the script very quickly, but didn’t have the months needed to properly prepare everything. When we got to set, many of the ideas that seemed good in theory just weren’t feasible given the time constraints.

The creators, the Duffer brothers, originally planned for ‘Stranger Things’ to last five seasons. According to Netflix executive Matthew Thunell, much of what they imagined back in 2015 is now happening as the series nears its conclusion. Variety magazine reported that each episode of season four cost around $30 million to produce.

Although the Duffer brothers know how Stranger Things will end, they aren’t finished with the story or the Upside Down world just yet.

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 early stages – they haven’t even shared the concept with anyone yet. Although they’ve been trying to keep it under wraps, Matt and Ross confessed that Finn had already correctly guessed what the series would be about, calling it “very, very different.” They emphasized that Finn is the only one outside of their team who knows!

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2026-01-12 22:19