There is perhaps no other show on Netflix that has transcended the platform more than Stranger Things. The sci-fi horror series, created by the Duffer Brothers, and inspired by a host of 1980s pop culture, is one of Netflix's flagship intellectual properties, with millions of fans all around the world.
With part one of the show's fourth season now streaming on Netflix, and part two set to land on July 1st, now is a perfect time to re-visit the series and learn some interesting facts about the Hellfire Club, Eleven, Hawkins, and everything it took to bring Stranger Things to the screen.
Dustin Was The First Of The Kids Cast
One of the core characters at the center of the show, Dustin Henderson is easily one of the most lovable characters in Stranger Things. His whimsical nature, geekiness, and rare condition of cleidocranial dysplasia have endeared actor Gaten Matarazzo to the legion of Stranger Things fans that watch the show. Matarazzo impressed so much in his audition that series creators the Duffer Brothers cast him first.
In an interview with fellow series director Shawn Levy (via Youtube), the Duffer Brothers revealed that Matarazzo was the first of the child actors cast in the series. They also revealed that Dustin's character, much like Steve's, was underdeveloped in early versions of the script.
Dacre Montgomery Toned Down His Six Pack For Stranger Things
One of the standout villainous characters from Stranger Things' four-season run thus far is Billy Hargrove. Played brilliantly by Australian actor Dacre Montgomery, Billy is one of the most morally dubious characters in the show. While his bad-boy persona and attractiveness made him a fan favorite, Billy could have been even more ripped.
Dacre Montgomery starred in 2017's Power Rangers as Jason Scott (The Red Ranger), shortly before he was cast in Stranger Things, and his six-pack is on full display in that movie. However, for Stranger Things, which is set in the 1980s, Montgomery went in a slightly different direction. In an interview with Men's Health, Montgomery revealed that he wanted the character of Billy to be a "chunkier, more muscly version" of himself.
Millie Bobby Brown Really Shaved Her Head In Season One
One of the most iconic things about Eleven's look when fans first meet her in season one is her lack of hair. Eleven's signature bald look recently returned in the show's fourth season, through the use of a hair cap for actor Millie Bobby Brown. However, when it came to her look in the show's first season she really shaved her head.
In a video from before filming of season 1 began (via Youtube), viewers can see Brown getting her head shaved to play the role of Eleven. Eleven's look has evolved over the course of Stranger Things' four-season run, and it'll be interesting to see where that goes in the future of the show.
It Took Between 6-8 Hours To Fully Create Vecna's Iconic Look
Stranger Things' big bad in season four is Vecna, the sinister Freddy Krueger-inspired mind infiltrator that terrorizes children across Hawkins. While Stranger Things reveals plenty about the origin of this iconic villain, one thing that fans may not know about the character is that he was brought to life largely by prosthetics.
In an interview with Stranger Things prosthetics designer Barrie Gower (via Youtube), Gower revealed that it took between six and eight hours to fully apply the Vecna prosthetics and make-up. The result is truly impressive, and it's especially nice to see old-school prosthetics being used to bring characters to life instead of the all too frequently employed CG used in most modern movies.
Each Season Is Set During A Different American Holiday
Something that might have slipped past casual Stranger Things fans is the fact that each of the show's four seasons have been set against the backdrop of a different American holiday. Season 1 of the show is set during the Christmas period, season 2 is set during Halloween, season 3 is set during July 4th celebrations, and the recently released fourth season is set during spring break.
Whether or not season 5 will follow this established convention is something fans will have to wait quite a bit for.
Season 5 Will Be The Final Season Of The Show
It has already been confirmed by series creators the Duffer Brothers that season 5 will be the final season of Stranger Things. The Brothers recently confirmed this in an interview with Variety, where they stated that they outlined and pitched the show's final season to Netflix executives during the pandemic and that at the end of the meeting there were tears.
The gap between Stranger Things' third and fourth seasons was dramatically affected by the pandemic, so hopefully, fans won't have to wait another three years before we find out how it all ends.
The Kids All Auditioned By Reading Lines From E.T.
Anyone with even the slightest knowledge of cinema will be familiar with Steven Spielberg's iconic sci-fi adventure film influence can be felt acutely in Stranger Things, particularly the show's first season.
However, the deep connection to E.T. goes even further. In Beyond Stranger Things, available to stream on Netflix, it was revealed that the kids all read lines from E.T. in their original auditions for the show. Capturing the spirit of Spielberg's family classic was definitely on the minds of series creators the Duffer Brothers when they went about casting the central leads for Stranger Things, and the result was genius.
Season 4 Has Become Netflix's Most-Watched Original Show Of All-Time
Season 4 of Stranger Things has been a long time in the making. Season 3 debuted in 2019, leaving a three-year gap between season 4 and its predecessor. Any belief that such a gap may have hampered audiences' enthusiasm for the show quickly dissipated when the numbers of viewers for season four started to come out.
Bridgerton into the second spot.
A Resurgence Of Kate Bush's Song "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)"
One of the best moments of season 4 thus far is Max's escape from Vecna in the Upside Down. The discovery that music is the key to breaking Vecna's hold allows Max to break free and escape back to the real world. The iconic track that helps Max escape is none other than Kate Bush's epic track "Running Up That Hill (A Deal With God)" from her 1986 album Hounds of Love.
The song's presence in the fourth season of Stranger Things has led to a massive resurgence in the track's popularity, introducing Kate Bush to a whole new audience that may be unfamiliar with some of Bush's best songs. The song has now entered the top five in both the United States (Billboard Hot 100) and the United Kingdom (Official Charts Top 40) at the time of this writing and looks set to take the top spot in both in the weeks.
Other Studios Rejected Stranger Things Before Netflix
It's hard to imagine any major network rejecting Stranger Things today. The show has grown into one of the biggest and most culturally prevalent TV shows of recent years, rivaled only by the likes of Breaking Bad in of widespread popularity. However, back in 2015 when the Duffer Brothers were pitching the show, they were rejected by all of the major networks.
In a 2016 interview with The Rolling Stone, the brothers estimate that they were rejected around fifteen or twenty times by various networks, many of which didn't like the idea of a TV show centered on kids as the lead characters. All of this proved to be a huge coup for Netflix which picked up the series and has benefited tremendously from the show's success.