Stranger Thingshas become a phenomenon ever since it first bump off Netflix in summer 2016 . With at least four season plan , the horror - tint , ’ 80s - set series is n’t going away anytime soon .
One of the show ’s most lovely qualities is how it wears its inspiration on its sleeve . Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer are upfront with the fact that their show is basically one big love letter to ’ fourscore soda pop culture . The downside in this is that much of the shows younger demographic are either too young or were n’t even expect yet . In fact , there ’s a good fortune that many of the show ’s references to the era have gone in good order over their header .
In solemnisation of therecent vexer for time of year four , we thought it would be fun to go bad down some lesser - known facts aboutStranger thing .
Stranger Things > Montauk
Some might be surprised to learn thatStranger Thingswas actually sell to Netflix under the working title“Montauk ” .
The Duffer brothers had originally intended for their sci - fi repugnance series to take office in Montauk , Long Island . However , after the serial was picked up , the position was changed to Hawkins , Indiana .
Interestingly enough , the Duffer brothers chose Montauk because of the cities connecter to “ The Montauk Project ” . This so-called administration experimentation demand the abduction of fry during the early ’ fourscore is a important source of brainchild for the brothers ’ script .
“The Montauk Project”
“ The Montauk Project”was used as aspiration forStranger Things . But what was “ The Montauk Project ” ?
In the other ’ 80s , there was allegedly a government experimentation that take aim place at the Montauk Air Force Base in Long Island . It purportedly involve kidnapping young youngster for experimentation . The governing is said to have been experimenting with time travel and psychological warfare proficiency . All of which are detailed in Preston B. Nichols and Peter Moon ’s bookThe Montauk Project : Experiments in Time .
The Show Was Rejected More Than 15 Times
Before finally landing at Netflix , Stranger Thingscreators Matt and Ross Duffer had their show rejected by seemingly every connection on earth .
In a 2016 interview with Rolling Stone , the brothersestimatedthat the show was disapprove anywhere from 15 to 20 times by various web . As they explicate it , the principal reason why nobody wanted to touchStranger Thingswas that web executives could n’t twine their heads around the idea of a show that featured kids as lead , but was n’t actually a nipper ’s show .
The Duffers were basically told that they ’d have to choose one or the other :
Considering how successful the show has been for Netflix , we ’re sure there are more than a few executive out there kicking themselves for not picking upStranger Thingswhen they had the fortune !
Casting the Children Took Time
Although it might sound a slight excessive , the Duffer brothers actually audition a staggering906 boy and 307 girlsfor the function of children inStranger Things . Each was ask to read theatrical role from the 1986 coming - of - old age cinema , Stand By Me .
Casting children can be a hard task for a handful of reasons . The Duffer chum deserve a lot of praise for casting such a talented radical of child . Millie Bobby Brown is an prominent actress poised to take over Hollywood and the hilarious Finn Wolfhard has already shore role in the 2017 remake ofStephen King’sIt , as well as the upcomingGhostbusters : Afterlife . It ’s only a matter of time before Caleb McLaughlin , Noah Schnapp , Sadie Sink , and Gaten Matarazzo begin landing bighearted purpose as well .
Gaten Matarazzo’s Auditon Tape
As mentioned above , the Duffer chum auditioned yard of children forStranger Things . agree to the brothers , Gaten Matarazzo ’s auditory modality tape was simply unforgettable .
During an interview with The New York Times back in 2016 , Matt Dufferexplainedthat they had to comb through hundreds of children ’s hearing tapes , many of which were turned off after “ five seconds ” . That was until they got to Matarazzo ’s tryout :
The Upside-Down Has a Ton Of Backstory
The netherworld land known as the “ Upside Down ” is the beating disconsolate heart at the center ofStranger Things . According to Ross Duffer , there ’s a short ton of backstory behind it .
In an interview with Variety , Dufferrevealedthat there ’s an intricate 30 - page document about the Upside Down . It details “ what it all means , where this monster actually came from , and why are n’t there more monsters . ”
The brothers be after to explore the Upside Down ’s history more in later season of the show .
Pennywise Says Hello
WatchingAndy Muschietti ’s 2017 adaptationof Stephen King ’s classic repulsion novelIt , it was hard not to be reminded ofStranger Things . Both are put in the ’ 80s and feature children as the leads .
That ’s probably because those connectionsweren’t accidental . The Duffer Brothers have been pretty upfront aboutStranger Thingsbeing heavily influenced by King ’s work . In fact , the duo primitively pitched a remake ofItto Warner Bros. but was turned down due to their lack of experience . They went on to createStranger Thingsinstead .
However , theItconnections do n’t end there . Finn Wolfhard , who plays Mike Wheeler , also stars in Stephen King’sItas Richie Tozier . Wolfhard was really offered the role of Richie before being take to play Mike . He nearly had to back out ofStranger Thingsbefore development hold onItmade him available to participate in both projection .
In a knowing wink to King ’s story , the final installment ofStranger thing ‘ first season check the kids essay to obliterate the Demogorgon monster with a sling . This is interchangeable to how the kids use a slingshot to render and wipe out Pennywise both in his goof and spider forms .
Other Stephen King Nods
Itisn’t the only Stephen King employment reference inStranger Things . In fact , the series actually alludes to quite a few of the Master of Horror ’s stories , let in :
Another , slightly more subtle nod is Eleven ’s olfactory organ bleeds whenever she use her telekinetic powers . This symptom is deal by David Keith ’s telekinetic begetter in the ’ 80s cult classicFirestarter .
Gaten Matarazzo Has a Real Medical Condition
During the pilot episode when the boys are confront by a mathematical group of bullies , Dustin ( Gaten Matarazzo ) is mocked about his teeth . Dustin reply that it ’s because he has“Cleidocranial Dysplasia ” . Not only is this a real medical condition , but it ’s one that Matarazzo is actually feign by .
Matarazzo was born with Cleidocranial Dysplasia , a rare congenital disorder that chiefly affects the development of finger cymbals and teeth . Typically , the collarbone is either ill developed or abstracted , which bear on the shoulders nigher together . In Matarazzo ’s display case , his condition is mild and non - inherited . intend that his particular affliction is actually extremely uncommon , as the condition is typically passed down through the genes .
Jaws
In improver to Stephen King , Stranger Thingspays homage to another famous “ Steve ” in Steven Spielberg .
One Spielberg reference that is carried on throughout the series is the Hawkins Police Department ’s vehicles and uniform . They are identical to those used by the authorities inJawsandJaws 2 . Specifically , this includes the tan uniform , Amity Island triangle - shaped patch , and beige SUV . The blue uniform and hats are worn by the flatfoot also tally the Amity Island Police uniforms fromJaws .
The show , in general , has a very Spielberg - inspired vibration . The director ’s 1982 filmE.T. the Extra - Terrestrialis an obvious influence . Here are just a few examples of theE.T./Stranger Thingsparallels :
Oh , and the Duffer brothers have accept that Winona Ryder ’s character Joyce was heavily inspired by Roy Neary , the fibre played by Richard Dreyfuss in Spielberg ’s 1977 filmClose Encounters of the Third Kind .
Eleven
All the child actors inStranger Thingsare great . But if one were to declare a breakout whizz , it would be Millie Bobby Brown . She has been sensational thus far as the mysterious telekinetic girl Eleven .
Interestingly , Brown was eleven years previous when she was cast in the part . Even though she only has approximately 42 lines of dialogue in the first season , she was still able to make a lasting imprint . Part of the reasonableness for that was probable due to Eleven ’s shaven forefront , which was model after Charlize Theron ’s Imperator Furiosa fromMad Max : Fury Road .
you’re able to actually get footage of Brown ’s momshavingher girl ’s head in training for her role . An event that was plainly so traumatise for her begetter that he terminate up sobbing and not being able to keep an eye on .
Silent Hill
Stranger Things ‘ inspirations do n’t begin and end with ’ 80s pop culture . The series seems to draw divine guidance from theSilent Hillvideo game series . ParticularlySilent Hill : Homecoming .
There are obvious parallel betweenSilent Hill‘s “ Otherworld ” and the Upside - Down . Both mirror the genuine world but are feeble environments shroud in haze and falling ash - like scrap . Both worlds also feature living wall portals . At one power point inStranger Things , an agent key out “ Shepherd ” tears into the bulwark so he can pass through , just as protagonist Alex Shepherd does inHomecoming .
In addition to similarities between these parallel worlds , Mike Wheeler ( Finn Wolfhard ) bear a spectacular resemblance to Alex Shepherd ’s fiddling brother , Joshua . Plus , the Wheeler surname is shared with Deputy Wheeler fromHomecoming .
Earthbound Nod
Another salient video plot reference can be found in the blonde wig and pinkish frock camouflage that Mike and his friends dress up Eleven in . Role - play game aficionados will recognize that Eleven ’s appearance is intimately identical to that ofPaula , one of the company phallus from 1994 Super Nintendo classicEarthbound .
likewise to Eleven , Paula have psychokinetic powers and travels around quaint American towns on bicycle with boys fighting otherworldly evil .
The Last of Us Connections
Another plot that share a few similarity withStranger ThingsisThe Last of Us . The Last of Usis the honour - winning action - adventure game make grow by Naughty Dog . It sport a man named Joel come with a untested girl named Ellie on a journey across the post - apocalyptic United States .
The Duffers have explicitly noted thatThe Last of Usis a secret plan that inspiredStranger Things . One connector that the Duffers have alluded to is the similarity between Eleven and Ellie , as both are likewise named preadolescent girls with singular qualities . to boot , Eleven reminds Sheriff Hopper of his deceased daughter , just as Ellie reminds Joel of his deceased daughter .
Some of the Episode Titles Are Homages to Classic Horror
Each instalment ofStranger Thingsis assign as a chapter . While some of the episode title are pretty straight — “ The Vanishing of Will Byers ” is self - explanatory — a few of them are reference to other repulsion - theme stories .
“ Chapter Two : The Weirdo on Maple Street ” could be a nod to Stephen King ’s light story “ The House on Maple Street ” . Also , it seems to be referencing Rod Serling’sTwilight Zoneclassic , “ The Monsters are Due on Maple Street ” .
Meanwhile , “ Chapter Four : The torso ” is a square reference to the Stephen King novelette of the same name . This novella would afterwards be turned into the movieStand by Me . The level of four friends who prepare out in search of a numb boy their age — just as the radical goes looking for Will . In fact , many scenes in this episode parallel the events ofStand by Me . In special , when the kids take the air along the railway tracks and when hiding at the local junkyard .
The final notable episode statute title “ Chapter Seven : The Bathtub ” . It is mayhap a nod to the noted bath sequence inThe Shining .
The Demogorgon
The son ’ name time of year one ’s fiend after theDemogorgonfromDungeons & Dragons .
In the tabletop game , Demogorgon is the powerful , self - exalt Prince of Demons who lives on the 88th stratum of the Abyss . Besides both being monsters , there are n’t many similarities between the two Demogorgon . TheD&Dversion has two snake - same heads with single minds that are ironically bent on belt down the other .
While the Demogorgon is a realDungeons & Dragonscreation , the “ caul of shadow ” is not . It seems to be based on Shadowfell , a planer connected to the material earthly concern that is populated by the undead and evil creature .
The Lord of the Rings References
In addition toDungeons & Dragons , another fantasy property that theStranger Thingsboys are obviously big fans of is J.R.R. Tolkien’sLord of the Rings . As such , there are a few allusions to Tolkien ’s body of work .
The most notable is when Joyce goes bet for her son Will at Castle Byers . She has a flashback , which unveil that the password to get in is “ Radagast” . Radagastis one of the five wizards fromLord of the Rings . The other four being Gandalf the Gray , Saruman the White , and Alatar and Pallando the blue mavin .
In an interesting bit of stunt casting , Sean Astin , who played Samwise Gamgee in theLord of the Ringsfilms , plays the eccentric Bob Newby in the show ’s second time of year .
Connections to The Walking Dead
Stranger Thingsis well - know for its many homages to Graeco-Roman ’ 80 motion-picture show and pop culture . However , you may not have find that the show has some connections to another horror - themed boob tube series .
While there are n’t any denotative references to AMC’sThe Walking Dead , the two series are yoke in a duet of small ways . For instance , twin actresses Anniston and Tinsley Price , who play Mike and Nancy Wheeler ’s new sister Holly , made her acting first appearance onThe walk Dead , playing babe Judith in the show ’s fourth time of year .
According to the Duffers , the Gemini made the most of their limited projection screen sentence by improvise all of their best moments . This includes when she gets upset by Dustin and sinks in her chair in “ Chapter Two ” and when Joyce inquire if she saw something in the wall and she replies back confidently “ yes ” .
Additionally , the scenes at the prey are the same placement used inThe Walking Dead‘s season one instalment , “ Vatos . ”
Steve Was Originally Going to Be a Huge D-Bag
One of the most surprising character turnarounds inStranger Thingshas to be Nancy Wheeler ’s beau Steve . He start the first season off as kind of a jerk and bully . However , he ends up reforming by the remnant and becoming an all - around becoming guy .
According to the Duffer brothers , Steve was earlier not speculate to have a third routine turnround . However , worker Joe Keery was so good and wizardly in the part that they felt like they had to give him a proper bow :
Nancy on Elm Street
Nancy Wheeler , played by Natalia Dyer , is actually an court to Heather Langenkamp ’s character from the originalA Nightmare on Elm Street . She is such a homage that her clothes and coiffure are interchangeable at times .
The law of similarity between the two only becomes more apparent as the first time of year draws to a close . Just like herElm Streetcounterpart did with Freddy Krueger , Nancy Wheeler is set to stop the colossus that is terrorizing Hawkins and sets up a bit of traps to try and kill the Demogorgon .
The final face-off is also reminiscent of Nancy ’s struggle with Freddy Krueger . Only this time , neither of her male friends is swallow up andmurdered by their bedslike poor Johnny Depp ’s case was .
