The final season of the popular show Stranger Things will be released in three parts this year: November 26th, December 25th, and on New Year’s Eve. Created by Matt and Ross Duffer, the series draws inspiration from the works of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King. Spielberg’s influence is clear, with echoes of family adventures seen in films like E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial and Close Encounters of the Third Kind. But the first four seasons are also full of subtle references and nods to Stephen King’s stories.
This is particularly noticeable when looking at the novel Firestarter, which was adapted into a film in the 1970s. It has many similar themes to the story of Eleven in Stranger Things.
Eleven in Stranger Things Owes Her Existence to Firestarter
A major plot point in Stranger Things involves the Upside Down, a parallel dimension accidentally accessed through a portal created by a scientific lab. While the creatures from the Upside Down provide much of the show’s horror, the lab itself is key to its connection to the work of Stephen King. This is because the lab conducted experiments on kidnapped children, including Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).
Viewers discover Eleven has powerful psychic abilities – she can move things with her mind – because of experiments conducted on her by Dr. Brenner at the Hawkins National Laboratory. She manages to escape and is taken in by police chief Jim Hopper, who becomes her adoptive father. Together, they face danger from both monsters and those from the laboratory who are trying to hide the truth about the experiments and get rid of Eleven.
You might recognize the story of Hawkins National Laboratory and Eleven – it bears a strong resemblance to Stephen King’s 1980 novel, Firestarter. The book centers on Charlie McGee, a girl whose parents developed superpowers through government experiments and then tried to escape. Now, the agency is after Charlie, hoping to capture her because she’s inherited powers from her parents – in her case, the ability to control fire, rather than using telepathy.
A film adaptation of Firestarter also existed, focusing on Charlie and her father as they tried to escape an agency pursuing them. Drew Barrymore, at age nine, starred as Charlie in a role that launched her career, alongside her memorable performance in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. The movie effectively portrayed Charlie’s fear and the intense anger she expressed when using her powers to defend herself. It’s easy to see how Firestarter paved the way for the character of Eleven, as the two share many similarities. With a chilling performance by George C. Scott as the military agent chasing Charlie, the film feels like a clear predecessor to Stranger Things, particularly when it comes to Eleven’s storyline.
Ignore the Firestarter Remake From 2022
Though the 1984 film adaptation of Firestarter has become a favorite among Stephen King fans, it didn’t quite capture the magic of the original novel. However, it’s far superior to the 2022 remake. The new version had a disappointing theatrical run, earning only $15 million despite a $12 million budget, likely due to its simultaneous release in theaters and on the Peacock streaming service.
Despite a poor release strategy that led to disappointing box office numbers, the film also received overwhelmingly negative reviews. Starring Ryan Kiera Armstrong as Charlie and Zac Efron as her father – a surprising role for the former teen heartthrob known from High School Musical – the movie also features Michael Greyeyes as John Rainbird, a performance considered significantly weaker than George C. Scott’s. With a mere 10% rating on Rotten Tomatoes, this remake of Firestarter ranks among the worst Stephen King adaptations ever made.
Although only one movie version of Firestarter is truly enjoyable for fans of the book, Stranger Things has demonstrated a strong understanding of how to tell a story about a uniquely powerful girl battling a formidable and overwhelming organization. Fans of Stephen King’s Firestarter will likely be very interested to see how Eleven’s journey concludes in the fifth season of Stranger Things.
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2025-10-24 23:41