Netflix is home to some of the biggest shows around, including none other than Stranger Things. The series has completely changed the lives of its biggest performers, and it even managed to bring together a couple that has been thriving for years. Sprinkle in crazy ratings, a hardcore fandom, and iconic characters, and you have yourself a show that can stand the test of time.
The show seems like it would have been a no-brainer for any network, but in truth, over 15 networks passed on the show for one very specific reason, and it wound up costing them in the end.
Let's take a look at the show, and why so many networks declined to greenlight it.
Stranger Things Has Been A Cultural Phenomenon Since Season One
In the ever-evolving landscape of television entertainment, few shows have made as profound an impact as Stranger Things. This thrilling sci-fi series, created by the Duffer Brothers, emerged as a cultural phenomenon when it first hit Netflix in July 2016. Since then, it has not only captivated audiences worldwide but has also redefined the possibilities for storytelling in the modern era.
Stranger Things quickly established itself as a breakout hit. Its gripping narrative, nostalgic nods to '80s pop culture, and a talented ensemble cast drew viewers of all ages into its enigmatic world. According to data from Netflix, the show achieved record-breaking success, with tens of millions of households streaming the third season within its first four days of release in 2019.
One of the standout features of Stranger Things was its remarkable young cast, whose exceptional performances helped drive the show's success. The ensemble included talented actors such as Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Noah Schnapp, all of whom were in their early teens when the series began.
The chemistry with the young cast was a major selling point for fans, but behind the scenes, it was a point of contention for studios.
Networks Passed On Stranger Things Because The Cast Was So Young
According to Mental Floss, the Duffers spoke about getting the show off the ground. Unfortunately, many networks had problems with the young cast. In fact, the show was rejected by at least 15 networks early on.
"You either gotta make it into a kids show or make it about this Hopper [detective] character investigating paranormal activity around town,'" Matt remembered one producer telling him. “Then we lose everything interesting about the show ... There was a week where we were like, ‘This isn’t going to work because people don’t get it,’” the site reported.
Being rejected that many times was a tough pill to swallow, but the Duffers knew that they just needed one person to be on board. That person was none other than producer Shawn Levy.
"The Duffer brothers came in, and within 10 minutes I knew that these were future major guys. “They had a self-assurance that was self-evident. So, we pitched it to Netflix, and within 24 hours, we had the whole season bought. We decided that we would direct all of the episodes ourselves," Levy said in an interview.
Just like that everything changed, and the show found its way to Netflix. From there, the Duffers realized their vision, and they turned Stranger Things into one of the biggest television shows of its era.
The show has had four brilliant season, and a 5th is on the way!
Here's What's Going On With Season 5
With the strike going on in Hollywood, the series' final season has been put on the backburner. That said, it's still happening, and it's going to be some time before it comes out.
Little is known about the show's final season. It's speculated that there will be a time jump. This is good news, as the once-young cast will be in teir early 20s by the time things are able to get underway.
Steve Harrington actor, Joe Keery, spoke about the bittersweet nature of the show ending.
"It won’t be easy for it to end. I mean, I owe my whole career to being on that show and all the opportunities that I had since are because of that show."
Keery added, "There’s a sense of relief, there’s a sense of sadness. I guess my goal is to just really soak it up as much as I can while we’re doing it, and not take any of it for granted because it’s been an amazing ride with such great people."
A silly little thing like the age of the cast stopped over 15 networks from picking up one of the biggest shows of all time. Netflix really knocked it out of the park when they snagged the show.
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