5 Things you probably didn’t know about Stranger Things
Last updated: August 25, 2025
With Stranger Things Season 5 finally arriving later this year – Volume 1 hits November 26, Volume 2 drops December 25, and the finale lands December 31. Fans everywhere are marking their calendars for what's shaping up to be Hawkins' most epic conclusion yet. But before we get swept up in that final showdown with the Upside Down, here are five fascinating behind-the-scenes secrets that'll probably surprise you.
It almost took place in Montauk
Before it became the cultural phenomenon we're all obsessed with today, Stranger Things started life as "Montauk" and was supposed to unfold on Long Island, New York. The name was a direct nod to the infamous "Montauk Project". Those wild conspiracy theories about secret government experiments. But New York's brutal winter weather and a mountain of production headaches convinced the Duffer Brothers to move the whole story to Hawkins, Indiana and rebranding everything as Stranger Things.
Thousands of kids auditioned
Finding the right young cast wasn't exactly a walk in the park. More than 1,200 kids showed up hoping to land a role – 906 boys and 307 girls all competing for those spots. The Duffer Brothers made everyone read scenes from Stand by Me. Gaten Matarazzo nailed his audition and walked away with Dustin's role almost immediately.
Eleven was meant to be a one-season wonder
Here's something that'll surprise you – the Duffer Brothers never planned on keeping Eleven around past season one. They wrote her as this mysterious figure who'd push the plot along and then disappear forever. But Millie Bobby Brown's performance was so incredible that everything changed. She brought so much depth to what could've been a throwaway character that the writers completely restructured their plans.
Stranger Things was originally conceived as an anthology series
The Duffer Brothers initially pitched something totally different – an anthology where each season would tell a brand new story with fresh characters. They were inspired by True Detective or American Horror Story, where every season stands alone. But Season 1 became a massive hit that they scrapped that idea entirely, deciding instead to stick with the same characters and build out their world.
Eddie Munson's guitar solo was real
That epic Season 4 moment where Eddie rocks out to Metallica's "Master of Puppets" on a trailer in the Upside Down? Joseph Quinn actually learned to play the whole thing himself. No fake guitar playing or body doubles.
Hawkins epic finale
All these behind-the-scenes stories really show how much creativity and pure luck went into creating the Stranger Things we love. From a character who was supposed to vanish becoming the show's anchor, to actors learning complex guitar pieces just for one scene – there's so much happening behind the camera. Now that Season 5 is finally coming, it's going to be amazing to see how all these creative decisions come together for what should be an incredible ending to the Hawkins story.
