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Stranger Things creators Ross and Matt Duffer have opened up about the pivotal role that HBO's Game of Thrones played in their negotiations with Netflix.
The twin brothers recently shared their thoughts on how they utilized the fantasy epic as a blueprint for scaling up their hit show. Their candid revelations offer a unique glimpse into the strategic planning behind one of Netflix's most successful series.
When Stranger Things premiered, the Duffer Brothers were relatively inexperienced showrunners navigating new territory. They looked to other successful shows for guidance on how to grow their aspirational project. Game of Thrones became their primary reference point during crucial conversations with Netflix. The brothers understood that building an arc for several seasons required both business savvy and creative vision.
Learning from television's most significant hit for Stranger Things
Matt Duffer explained their strategy during a recent interview covering the series's final season. The brothers examined what Game of Thrones showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss accomplished with their aspirational fantasy show. The HBO series demonstrated how success could fuel huge budgets and bigger storytelling. Every season built upon the last, creating a domino effect that expanded both the series's audience and scope.
In terms of TV, the Duffers always looked to Game of Thrones and what David and Dan did. They leveraged the success to scale up the series and evolve it. The brothers recognized this pattern and witnessed its potential application to their own work. This observation became a compelling tool in their negotiations with executives who controlled production budgets and those involved in the streaming industry.
The brothers utilized Game of Thrones as leverage in their Netflix discussions. They pointed to how the fantasy show evolved, rising in production values while maintaining quality. This approach resonated with Netflix decision-makers who understood the value of investing in established works.
The streaming platform had witnessed how HBO's investment paid off well. Matt Duffer revealed their pitch strategy with clarity. Matt explained further.
"We would always take that example to Netflix for reasons why we should scale up the show: It'll scale up the audience. At least, that was what we told them."
The strategy clearly worked as Stranger Things grew from an exciting first season into a cultural phenomenon with increasingly special effects and elaborate set pieces.
Creative freedom and budget battles
Despite their win, the Duffers acknowledge that disagreements with Netflix typically revolved around budget issues. They emphasized the excellent creative freedom the platform provided throughout the series's run. Matt Duffer noted the platform provided throughout the series' run.
Matt Duffer noted the unexpected creative leash they had at Netflix, describing their overall experience as really amazing. There have not been many intense conflicts between the streaming service and the creators.
When conflicts escalated, they usually involved convincing executives that certain concepts were essential to the story rather than optional flourishes.
"There are certain concepts that we have to fight for as essential to the narrative," the brothers explained.
Usually, compromises could be reached that satisfied both financial and creative requirements.
The fourth season presented the creative team with eccentric challenges. The brothers wanted to explore the transition from psychological horror to physical monsters with Vecna, an antagonist who invades minds. This represented a crucial departure from previous seasons and required a significant explanation to stakeholders.
Ross Duffer recalled how they had experimented with mind-based concepts before Eleven. But suddenly, they were making a significant shift from gooey monsters to creating someone who would take over their minds and interact with victims.
Building toward the finale for Stranger Things
Stranger Things will end with its fifth season, premiering on November 26. The Duffers learned essential lessons about television storytelling throughout their journey. They credit Game of Thrones with teaching them to think long-term about the show's development. However, they also caution against planning too much at the expense of making each single season compelling.
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Game of Thrones proved to be a major template for the success story of Stranger Things and its strategic growth.
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