Before Hawkins became a household name, before the bikes, walkie-talkies, and Demogorgons, Matt and Ross Duffer were dreaming about Stephen King’s It. Yes, the same story that gave the world the nightmare-inducing Pennywise, and terrified generations with the idea that clowns could be, well, evil.
The brothers were early in their creative careers and already steeped in horror, fantasy, and nostalgia. Naturally, a project like It — a sprawling narrative of childhood trauma, friendship, and supernatural menace — was right up their alley. They envisioned bringing their own sensibilities to the story, blending genuine terror with heart, much like the tone they would later perfect in Stranger Things.
However, Hollywood had other plans. Despite their passion and talent, the Duffer Brothers were ultimately turned down for the remake. For many, a rejection like that could be devastating, but for Matt and Ross, it became fuel. “It was a bummer in some ways, but we really sort of turned that into our own thing,” Matt Duffer confessed in a candid interview.
This sentiment is crucial to understanding the DNA of Stranger Things. Rather than seeing the rejection as a dead-end, they pivoted, taking the central ideas that had inspired them — the tension of childhood fears, the uncanny lurking beneath familiar surroundings, and the strength of friendships tested by extraordinary circumstances — and crafting a world entirely their own. The eerie, suburban landscape of Hawkins, Indiana, would become their version of Derry, Maine, filled with mysteries that demanded exploration over multiple seasons.
The parallels are hard to ignore. Just as It revolves around the vulnerabilities and courage of children confronting something incomprehensible, Stranger Things places kids at the centre of a supernatural narrative, allowing horror and heart to coexist in ways that feel both thrilling and deeply relatable. The Duffer Brothers had taken the blueprint of King’s world and reimagined it, creating a narrative universe with its own rules, stakes, and mythology.
The story becomes even more interesting when you consider the casting ramifications. In 2017, rising star Finn Wolfhard — now synonymous with Mike Wheeler — was originally slated to play Richie in the It remake. The overlap is tantalising: the same actor embodying two distinct yet thematically similar roles, both tied to supernatural horror and coming-of-age experiences.
Yet, as fate would have it, production delays on It pushed the film back by a year. This accidental scheduling conflict prevented Wolfhard from participating in the adaptation, a twist that, for fans, is both a sigh of relief and a fascinating “what if?” moment. Imagine Richie and Mike as two separate, overlapping timelines in Wolfhard’s career.
Instead, this timing allowed him to deepen his portrayal of Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things, becoming an integral part of the ensemble that fans would come to love. It also highlights the unpredictable nature of Hollywood, where schedules, production delays, and casting coincidences can profoundly shape careers — and entire narratives.
The overlap also demonstrates the Duffer Brothers’ acumen in recognising talent. Their ability to cultivate young actors, providing them with roles that would challenge and grow their abilities, ensured that Stranger Things would not merely rely on adult performances to carry the show. Wolfhard, alongside Millie Bobby Brown, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, and Natalia Dyer, became the foundation of a cast capable of navigating both emotional complexity and supernatural terror.
The failed It bid ultimately became a blessing in disguise, catalysing the creation of a unique and enduring horror universe. Rather than adhering to someone else’s iconic story, the Duffer Brothers were free to construct Hawkins, the Upside Down, and the intricate mythology that underpins Stranger Things.
Their reverence for Stephen King’s work is evident throughout the series. There’s the subtle nods to suburban terror, the slow-building dread, and the way childhood innocence contrasts with incomprehensible evil. Yet, the series is anything but derivative. Where King’s narratives often take place within an insular small-town microcosm, the Duffers expanded the world to blend science fiction, horror, and heartfelt storytelling.
Their success demonstrates a critical lesson in creative resilience: rejection does not preclude innovation. Instead, it can redirect creative energy into uncharted territory, resulting in something wholly original. Hawkins became their playground for suspense, nostalgia, and emotional storytelling — a place where monsters both literal and metaphorical could roam freely.
Stranger Things embodies this philosophy perfectly. Eleven, with her psychic abilities, is a fresh incarnation of the extraordinary-child trope seen in King’s works. The Demogorgon, shadowy and grotesque, serves as a stand-in for the unknown horrors of adolescence and the darkness lurking beneath familiar landscapes. And yet, all of this is interwoven with humour, friendship, and emotional resonance, showcasing the Duffer Brothers’ distinctive style.
By creating a universe that honours their influences while forging a path forward, the Duffer Brothers have secured a legacy as architects of modern horror television. Their work pays homage to the past while simultaneously reshaping the genre for contemporary audiences. The echoes of their initial ambitions to remake It linger throughout the series, reminding viewers that the essence of great storytelling lies in persistence, imagination, and the courage to pursue a unique vision.
One of the reasons Stranger Things resonates so powerfully is its careful balance between horror and heartfelt human stories. The Duffer Brothers learned from their It experience that the most compelling supernatural narratives require grounded characters who experience genuine emotions. Fear alone is not enough; empathy is essential.
In Stranger Things, friendships are tested against extraordinary circumstances, paralleling King’s exploration of camaraderie and loyalty amidst terror. The bonds between Mike, Eleven, Dustin, Lucas, and Will form the emotional core of the series, allowing the audience to experience both fear and warmth. These relationships mirror the dynamics of King’s Losers’ Club, yet they are refracted through the Duffers’ 1980s lens, enriched by nostalgia, pop culture, and the quirks of suburban adolescence.
It is this blending of influences — horror, adventure, nostalgia, and coming-of-age storytelling — that has cemented Stranger Things as a cultural touchstone. The Duffer Brothers’ willingness to transform rejection into creative liberation laid the groundwork for a show capable of evolving over multiple seasons without losing its soul.
As Stranger Things approaches its fifth and final season, the influence of the Duffer Brothers’ early aspirations remains palpable. The narrative threads, the mythos of the Upside Down, and the careful character development all bear the fingerprints of a creative journey shaped by both ambition and adversity. Fans can anticipate that themes of fear, loyalty, and the unknown will continue to unfold in ways that honour the series’ roots while pushing into uncharted territory.
The story of the Duffer Brothers and It serves as a reminder that great creative work often emerges from setbacks. Their resilience, vision, and capacity to synthesise inspiration into something entirely new has ensured that Stranger Things is more than a nostalgic thrill ride. It is a complex, emotionally rich universe capable of inspiring both fear and awe, laughter and tears.
Finn Wolfhard’s trajectory, from almost playing Richie to becoming an integral part of Hawkins, underscores the interconnectedness of creative decisions and the unpredictable serendipity of production timelines. Every twist, delay, or detour in the Duffer Brothers’ early career contributed to shaping a show that has captivated millions and will remain influential long after the Upside Down fades from our screens.
Ultimately, the Duffer Brothers’ journey from aspiring It remake directors to creators of one of the most beloved television series of the 21st century illustrates the power of perseverance, the importance of personal vision, and the magic that happens when talent, timing, and passion collide. Hawkins, Indiana, might have been born from a dream deferred, but it stands today as a testament to the brilliance that can emerge when creators embrace their own voices rather than chasing someone else’s legacy.
