Stranger Things as we know it? Almost didn’t exist. In the show’s earliest days, the Duffer Brothers pitched it as Montauk, set in a gritty New York coastal town. And instead of Hawkins, Indiana, the supernatural epic was nearly built around the mysterious, conspiracy-laden “Montauk Project.” The premise? A covert government experiment in mind control, time travel, and bizarre tests served as a spine-tingling inspiration for the show. But when Netflix came on board, the Duffers shifted gears, and “Montauk” morphed into a tale of bikes, brave kids, and one terrifying Demogorgon.
Released in 2016, Stranger Things snuck up on summer audiences and quickly became an overnight sensation. Part mystery, part horror, and 100% nostalgia, the show took off with its ensemble cast of curious kids, led by Eleven, a girl with telekinetic powers.
Early on, Stranger Things faced rejections from major networks. A common critique? Scrap the kids. The networks wanted the spotlight on an adult protagonist, maybe Jim Hopper, investigating the supernatural. The Duffers resisted, firmly believing that kids were vital. Netflix took a gamble on the younger crew, and audiences latched on, making it clear that the magic lay in the youthful cast facing unimaginable terrors.
Of course, it wasn’t just where and who that almost changed, but how. Eleven, now a beloved figure in pop culture, was also nearly axed in season one. Since the show’s initial structure was envisioned as a limited series, the Duffers entertained a scenario where Eleven sacrificed herself to save her friends and Hawkins from the monstrous Upside Down, wrapping up the story with a tragic hero’s end. But as the concept of a multi-season saga took shape, the Duffers realized Eleven’s journey was beginning.
Then there was the name change: Montauk, though a real town, might have tied the series too closely to reality, losing the surreal escape that Hawkins offered. Like Stephen King’s fictional settings, Hawkins allowed Stranger Things to create its unsettling lore, unbound by geographic realities. It turned out to be crucial in cementing the show’s mythos.
The Duffers built Stranger Things from a curious “what if” into a phenomenon thanks to Netflix. The show’s path from Montauk to Hawkins, from anthology to serialized, from a lone adult investigator to a gang of meddling kids, helped create an iconic, immersive experience. Even if Montauk had hit our screens instead, it’s hard to imagine that the thrill of Hawkins could ever be replaced. And honestly, no one seems to have any regrets.
News
‘Littlefinger’ Star Aidan Gillen Had No Idea ‘Game of Thrones’ Was a Cultural Phenomenon Until the Biggest Plot Twist
Aidan Gillen only realized the massive cultural impact of Game of Thrones after the most shocking death scene in Season 1. Game of Thrones had a lot of shocking plot twists and turns that took the world by storm, but Irish…
“I’ll exhibit some symptoms of trauma down the road”: Sophie Turner Developed Coping Mechanism for Traumatic Game of Thrones Scenes
Sophie Turner dealt with her trauma on the set of Game of Thrones by trying to have fun in between takes. It’s been five years since Game of Thrones wrapped up and yet, people are still talking about every single controversial scene…
Cobra Kai Season 6 Gets a Killer Martial Artist in Cast: 13x World Champion Rayna Vallandingham is a Scary Fighter in Real Life
Cobra Kai 6 brings the heat with Zara Malik, portrayed by 13-time world champion Rayna Vallandingham, bringing fierce intensity and skill. Cobra Kai may be on its final lap, but you can bet it’s not going down quietly. The beloved series,…
Jason Momoa: The $90M Movie I Did after Game of Thrones Bombed Because “There were too many cooks in the kitchen”
Jason Momoa’s $90M post-Game of Thrones movie flopped, proving even Khal Drogo couldn’t conquer creative chaos. Read full story here. Not even Jason Momoa’s towering charisma could save this one! Fresh off Game of Thrones, the man who made Khal Drogo…
“I’m never going to read your work again”: George RR Martin Revealed 1 Game of Thrones Scene Made Fans Throw His Book into the Fire
Fans burned George RR Martin’s book after reading the most painful scene ever in the history of Game of Thrones. Many infuriating scenes in Game of Thrones made viewers want to tear their hair out, and according to George RR Martin, there’s…
The ‘Wokeness’ Criticism That Plagues Space Marine 2 is a Hilariously Made-up Propaganda Piece That’d Make Ben Shapiro Flinch
Several Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 players Saber is promoting a “woke” agenda. However, that’s not the case when you look at the facts. There’s no doubt that Warhammer 40k: Space Marine 2 has been one of the year’s biggest hit games…
End of content
No more pages to load