I was today years old when I found out Stranger Things almost had a different title (& I’m glad it was changed)

It's always weird—no pun intended—when a piece of information comes along that utterly rearranges the way you consider a hit show. I was today years old when I found out that Stranger Things, one of the most emblematic TV shows of the last decade, almost wasn't named that at all. If you've been a faithful devotee of Hawkins and the Upside Down, this may be jarring. Because once you've read what the original title was, it's hard not to see how much differently the series might have turned out if it still had the title "Montauk."

Yes, Stranger Things originally was "Montauk," named after the infamous conspiracy theories of government experiments in Montauk, New York. The transition from Montauk to Stranger Things didn't just tweak the show's branding but may have changed the trajectory of the show entirely. While "Montauk" aimed to set the show in some specific lore and location, the new title opened up for a broader universe, story flexibility, and a name that stuck with audiences worldwide.

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The original concept of Stranger Things: "Montauk" and its conspiracy roots

When the Duffer brothers originally presented their series, it was firmly based on a series of urban legends about the alleged Montauk Project. Based on these claims—none of which are ever proved—there have been assertions that government researchers operating from Camp Hero in Montauk, Long Island, conducted secret experiments in the 1970s and '80s. These included mind control, time travel, and interactions with extraterrestrial life forms.

Any of these ring a bell? That's because so many of them directly impacted the initial drafts of what would later become Stranger Things. Indeed, the pilot script of the series (when it was still titled Montauk) was set completely within New York, and the character names and plotlines were similar to what we eventually did witness—but with a greater emphasis on the Montauk legend.

The disappearance of the child, covert government experiments, and the telekinetic kid were already part of the ingredients. But the tone was closer to an actual conspiracy thriller than the bigger supernatural epic Stranger Things ended up being.

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Why did the title and the location have to change

While the idea of "Montauk" was fraught, its location posed some production issues. The Duffer Brothers originally had planned to shoot on and around Long Island, but the realities of shooting in Montauk began to be a problem. The weather along the coast was volatile, and the logistics of shooting so far from the main bases of production were costly and complicated. These production issues brought about a reconsideration of location, and with it, the title.

Instead of Long Island, the story was transferred to the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana. This move allowed the creators to establish the feel of the eerie atmosphere of most small-town mysteries of the 1980s fiction, which was the period in which they were recreating the setting. More importantly, it freed them from the limitations of an actual setting and real events. With the story now free from the mythological and geographical limits of Montauk, it was in a position to create a new mythology for itself.

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The role of Netflix and the process of branding

Netflix also played a role in molding the show into what it is now. When the show was picked up by the platform, they weren't committed to the "Montauk" name. Executives felt that the name lacked sufficient appeal or self-explanatory value. "Montauk" may have been enough to pique the interest of fans of conspiracy legend, but it told the viewer nothing about the type of story they would be getting themselves into. It had more of a documentary feel to it than a supernatural thriller.

The title, Stranger Things, was born of desperation—but it was also cleverly strategic. It suggested otherness, strange mysteries, and supernatural events. It referred back to the tone of old Stephen King novels, retrograde horror comics, and Spielbergian science fiction. The title worked because it gave audiences a mood instead of a location, which was exactly what the show aimed to give them: a retrograde mystery based in character, emotion, and suspense.

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How the title shift altered the show's identity

Not only did the transition from "Montauk" to Stranger Things solve logistical issues. It gave the show its name. A title such as "Montauk" would have fixed the story on a specific trajectory—a grounded conspiracy with borders. But Stranger Things is a title that facilitates telekinesis, alternate universes, Soviet villains, supernatural creatures, and time travel.

It's also one that won't pin the show to one specific mythology. Instead, it offers creative latitude to expand. Over four seasons (and continuing), the show has added the Demogorgon, and then Vecna, and those developments might have been more jarring or disconnected under a title as specific as "Montauk." Stranger Things gave the creators room to surprise the audience without feeling disconnected.

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Would "Montauk" have worked?

Although "Montauk" might have worked as a short-run series or niche sci-fi horror, it's uncertain whether it would have achieved such cultural momentum. The title isn't widely recognized beyond certain online spheres, and the conspiracy-based premise may have attracted a reduced audience. Most importantly, it doesn't quite capture the tone and emotional resonance Stranger Things has built over the years.

The title Stranger Things also contributed heavily to promotion. It's vague, interesting, and ageless—appropriate for a program that combines horror, sci-fi, teen drama, and emotional drama. It raises questions and doesn't reveal too much, a necessity for a series of mysteries wanting to attract new audiences season after season.

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Many times, it's the small things that make the biggest difference. The name "Montauk" may have been where the series started, but Stranger Things was what made it discover its identity. The rebranding wasn't merely about show—it was about remaking the world, the story, and the perceptions surrounding it.

Now that we're looking back, we'll never truly have an idea of what "Montauk" would have been like on TV, but from Stranger Things' success and popularity, obviously, the choice was a wise one. And now that I've stumbled upon this nugget today, it's impossible not to think about how many great shows might not have been, simply due to a name.

Also read: Stranger Things season 5: Everything we know so far