‘Stranger Things’ Original Setting Would Have Make The Show Unrecognizable

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Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things has quickly become a standout show on television. The series, heading into its fifth and final season, takes place in the made-up town of Hawkins, Indiana. The story begins when a group of young friends searches for a missing boy and instead finds Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), a girl with special powers. They soon discover she’s escaped from the Hawkins National Laboratory, which is hiding a gateway to a strange, alternate world called the “Upside Down” – a dark reflection of our own.

This critically acclaimed show is a unique blend of science fiction, horror, mystery, fantasy, and stories about growing up. It’s heavily influenced by the styles of iconic creators like David Lynch, Steven Spielberg, and Stephen King, drawing inspiration from many familiar sources in pop culture. The show has already won numerous awards, including 10 Emmys and 4 Golden Globes, and is expected to receive even more recognition. While the story is now set in Indiana, which adds to its unsettling atmosphere and visual appeal, the creators originally envisioned it taking place in New York.

Montauk, New York, Was a Natural Choice Because of Its Conspiracy History


Netflix

The Duffer Brothers wanted to create a tightly-plotted conspiracy thriller, something they felt was missing from shows in the 2010s. They originally planned to set the story in Montauk, New York, and even considered that as the show’s title. The announcement generated a lot of buzz, especially because the brothers had learned from M. Night Shyamalan and had previously demonstrated a talent for building suspense and foreshadowing in their work, similar to the captivating and mysterious atmosphere of Wayward Pines, where the characters’ inability to leave town created a powerful sense of unease.

The location was perfect for their purposes, fueled by a long-standing rumor that the U.S. government once ran experiments at Camp Hero or Montauk Air Force Station. These experiments, according to the story, aimed to unlock time travel and teleportation, and to create new methods of psychological warfare. The rumor began with the books written by conspiracy theorist Preston Nichols, collectively known as the Montauk Project series.

It was a fitting choice, really. If humanity was going to be captured, destroyed, and cooked by monsters, then the government should be held responsible. The brothers were also drawn to Montauk because of its connection to Steven Spielberg, whose work they admired. While filming Jaws, Spielberg had used Montauk as the basis for Amity Island, the fictional New England town terrorized by sharks.

I remember when the whole project started – the creators were really inspired by the movie Prisoners, that incredibly intense story about a father dealing with his daughter’s kidnapping. They wanted to take that same emotional weight and really explore it over a much longer timeframe, like an eight-hour series. They also had this cool idea to center the story around kids and introduce a terrifying monster that hunts people. Apparently, according to Rolling Stone, they were convinced combining all these elements would be amazing – they thought it was a perfect fit!

To create a believable monster, the creators looked into strange experiments from the Cold War, like Project MKUltra. This research also led them to set the story in the 1980s, a time of intense fear and suspicion between the East and West. When developing the characters, the creators drew on their own childhood memories of growing up in the 80s.

A Real World Location Had Narrative Limitations


Netflix

The Duffer brothers initially considered setting their story in Montauk, but they realized it would restrict their creative freedom. They decided to create the fictional town of Hawkins instead, which allowed them to explore more possibilities, like the idea of an entire area being placed under quarantine – something that wouldn’t have been believable with a real location.

Moving the show to a new setting also meant they needed a new name. Luckily, they didn’t have to brainstorm for long. Someone remembered Stephen King’s book, Needful Things, and the creators loved both the story and the way the title looked. It’s no surprise that Stranger Things feels similarly ominous and hints at a coming disaster. Matt Duffer recalls a lot of debate over the title, but ultimately remembers the process fondly.

We chose the 1980s as the perfect setting because it let us capture the things that inspired us – like the atmosphere of Stephen King novels and films by Spielberg. We wanted to blend all those influences together to create the show’s concept.

It’s difficult now to picture Stranger Things on any streaming service besides Netflix, but the show’s creators, the Duffer brothers, originally didn’t think they had a chance. They believed only well-known creators like Jenji Kohan (of Orange Is the New Black) and David Fincher (House of Cards) were able to propose ideas to the platform.

Matt recalls facing a lot of rejection – around 15 to 20 times – from TV networks and streaming services. Many executives didn’t believe in a sci-fi horror show led by four kids. Some even suggested turning it into a lighthearted comedy, wanting something cheerful and playful instead of dark and unsettling. Matt and his team felt this missed the point – younger characters are often ideal for scary stories, as they’re more vulnerable but also uniquely perceptive to strange occurrences. At one point, they were even told to make the story about an adult detective. “We seriously doubted it would work because people just didn’t understand our vision,” Matt remembers. Fortunately, they eventually found the right home for their show.

Hawkins, Indiana, Is a Better Canvas for This Amazing Work of Art


Ursula Coyote / ©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Stranger Things truly feels like a classic Duffer Brothers creation, filled with the unsettling tension and fear they’ve carefully built throughout their work. Moving the story from Montauk to the made-up town of Hawkins was a smart decision. It allowed them to create their own original plot instead of being tied to the controversial history of the real Montauk Project and a book about it. Had they stayed in Montauk, the show would have been more of a retelling of existing, and often disputed, stories.

These kinds of stories really come to life in rural or small-town environments. The atmosphere is heightened when even the beautiful scenery feels subtly unsettling. Isolation and a close community make the horror and tension more intense, as getting help isn’t easy. It also feels more realistic for secret or dangerous government experiments to happen in overlooked parts of the country, rather than in busy, well-known cities.

As a film fan, I really noticed how smart the location choice was for the show. They usually shoot all over Atlanta, which gives them so much freedom to use the natural surroundings. If they’d set the story in Montauk like the original plan, it would’ve been way more complicated – and expensive! – because they’d have needed filming permits in New York instead. It’s a good thing they stuck with Georgia, visually it really works.

Creating the fictional town of Hawkins was a brilliant move for the Duffer brothers, giving them total freedom to build the world of the show. If they’d set it in a real place like Montauk, they would have been limited by its existing history and geography. Plus, a coastal location would have likely required more storylines focused on the ocean, which might not have served the story as well – Spielberg already explored that territory effectively.

A genuine place exists independently and won’t easily be controlled. It’s a dynamic, living thing that adapts to people, but remains its own entity. Skilled storytellers recognize this – that’s why they build their own worlds, like Gotham City and Hawkins. Here’s to Stranger Things!

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2025-11-13 23:04