50 Things You Didn’t Know About Stranger Things

Stranger Things has become a pop culture phenomenon since its debut in 2016 and has captured the hearts of audiences all over the world with its unique blend of nostalgia, mystery, and supernatural elements. While many fans may think they know everything there is to know about the hit Netflix series, there are still plenty of fascinating facts and tidbits that remain unknown to most. Here are 50 things you may not know about Stranger Things:

1. The show was originally titled Montauk, after the real-life town in New York where the Duffer Brothers, the creators of the show, spent their summers as kids.

2. Winona Ryder, who plays Joyce Byers, originally auditioned for the role of Eleven.

3. The show is set in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, but was actually filmed in various locations around Georgia.

4. The kids in the show, including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp, all had to audition multiple times before landing their roles.

5. The character of Eleven was inspired by a real-life girl with telekinetic powers named Saint Eleven.

6. The Upside Down, the alternate dimension in the show, was inspired by the work of H.P. Lovecraft and Stephen King.

7. The Demogorgon, the monster from the first season, was created using a combination of practical effects and CGI.

8. The show's opening theme was composed by Michael Stein and Kyle Dixon of the band Survive.

9. The show's creators have stated that they plan to end the series after four or five seasons.

10. The show's cast and crew have a tradition of playing pranks on each other on set.

11. The character of Chief Hopper was originally intended to be killed off in the first season, but David Harbour's performance was so strong that they decided to keep him alive.

12. The show's creators have revealed that they originally planned for Eleven to have a different power in each season.

13. The show's creators have stated that they drew inspiration from a wide range of sources, including The Goonies, E.T., and Stand By Me.

14. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the show to be darker and more adult-oriented, but they decided to tone it down to make it more family-friendly.

15. The show's creators have stated that they have a definitive ending in mind for the series, but they are open to continuing the story in other forms, such as spin-offs or sequels.

16. The character of Dustin was inspired by Gaten Matarazzo's own experiences growing up with cleidocranial dysplasia, a genetic disorder that affects the development of bones and teeth.

17. The character of Will Byers was originally intended to be killed off in the first season, but the show's creators decided to keep him alive after witnessing Noah Schnapp's performance.

18. The iconic scene where Eleven flips a van with her mind was done using a combination of practical effects and CGI.

19. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Steve Harrington to be killed off in the first season, but they decided to keep him alive after Joe Keery's performance.

20. The character of Barb, played by Shannon Purser, became a fan favorite despite her relatively short screen time.

21. The show's creators have stated that they drew inspiration from the works of directors such as Steven Spielberg, John Carpenter, and David Cronenberg.

22. The show's creators have stated that they have a rule of no cell phones or social media on set to help maintain the show's '80s setting.

23. The character of Lucas was originally written as a white character, but the show's creators decided to cast Caleb McLaughlin in the role after being impressed by his audition.

24. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Dr. Brenner to return in later seasons, but they ultimately decided to keep him dead.

25. The character of Billy, played by Dacre Montgomery, was originally intended to be a one-off villain, but his character was expanded in later seasons.

26. The character of Max was inspired by a real-life girl named Maxine who the Duffer Brothers knew growing up.

27. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Bob to be a one-off character, but they decided to keep him alive after Sean Astin's performance.

28. The character of Murray Bauman, played by Brett Gelman, was inspired by real-life conspiracy theorists.

29. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Erica to be a minor character, but they decided to expand her role after Priah Ferguson's performance.

30. The show's creators have stated that they have a list of rules for writing the show, including no love triangles and no product placement.

31. The character of Robin, played by Maya Hawke, was inspired by the works of '80s director John Hughes.

32. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Kali to have a bigger role in the series, but they ultimately decided to write her out.

33. The character of Dr. Owens, played by Paul Reiser, was inspired by real-life government scientists involved in the MKUltra program.

34. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Alexei to be a one-off character, but they decided to keep him alive after Alec Utgoff's performance.

35. The character of Erica was originally intended to be a one-off character, but her role was expanded after Priah Ferguson's performance.

36. The show's creators have stated that they have a specific color palette for each season, with each color representing a different theme or emotion.

37. The character of Billy was inspired by real-life '80s bad boys like James Dean and Billy Idol.

38. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Jonathan Byers to be a one-off character, but they decided to keep him alive after Charlie Heaton's performance.

39. The character of Max was originally written as a one-off character, but her role was expanded after Sadie Sink's performance.

40. The show's creators have stated that they drew inspiration from the works of authors such as Stephen King, Dean Koontz, and Clive Barker.

41. The show's creators have stated that they have a rule of no CGI blood in the show, opting instead for practical effects.

42. The character of Steve Harrington was originally written as a one-off character, but his role was expanded after Joe Keery's performance.

43. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Nancy Wheeler to be killed off in the first season, but they decided to keep her alive after Natalia Dyer's performance.

44. The character of Hopper was inspired by real-life '80s tough guys like John McClane and Martin Riggs.

45. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Murray Bauman to be a one-off character, but they decided to keep him alive after Brett Gelman's performance.

46. The character of Bob was inspired by real-life '80s nice guys like Mr. Rogers and Tom Hanks.

47. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Robin Buckley to be a one-off character, but they decided to keep her alive after Maya Hawke's performance.

48. The character of Kali was inspired by real-life '80s punks like Siouxsie Sioux and Joan Jett.

49. The show's creators have stated that they originally planned for the character of Dr. Owens to be a one-off character, but they decided to keep him alive after Paul Reiser's performance.

50. The character of Alexei was originally written as a one-off character, but his role was expanded after Alec Utgoff's performance.

Stranger Things is a show that is filled with fascinating behind-the-scenes facts and trivia that even the most devoted fans may not be aware of. From the show's original title to the inspiration behind some of the characters, there is always something new and interesting to discover about this beloved series. As we eagerly await the release of the fourth season, it's clear that there is still so much more to learn about the world of Stranger Things.