Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, and other members of the Stranger Things cast have changed significantly since the series debuted in 2016. The actors, many of whom were previously unknown, rapidly rose to prominence in Hollywood following the drama’s massive success.
The show’s co-creator, Matt Duffer, revealed the unexpected scale of its impact. He told Entertainment Weekly in September 2017, "I don’t think Netflix thought it was going to be as big as it got, but neither did we."
This unexpected fandom now pushes those working behind the scenes to excel with each new installment. Director Shawn Levy described the passion surrounding the show. "It’s definitely overwhelming," Levy said. "The love for this show is so rabid."
Duffer also expressed his desire for strong viewer reactions. "We want people arguing what season is best," he stated. "I want the debate. I want the ‘Toy Story’ debate!"
Part of surprising viewers involves keeping plot details under strict wraps. This secrecy extends even to the cast members themselves. Finn Wolfhard told Us Weekly in August 2018, "I don’t know much about it because we get scripts as we go along."
Stranger Things premiered globally on Netflix in July 2016. Its initial season introduced the core ensemble.
The original cast included Brown as Eleven, Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson, Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, and Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers. David Harbour played Jim Hopper, Caleb McLaughlin was Lucas Sinclair, and Noah Schnapp portrayed Will Byers. Joe Keery appeared as Steve Harrington, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, and Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler.