‘Stranger Things’: What Does Stephen King Think About the Series?
It’s safe to say that Stranger Things owes a lot to Stephen King. There are so many references to King’s novels in the Netflix series that one could find a King-related easter egg in practically every episode. The Duffer Brothers themselves have stated how much Stephen King has influenced their series, as well as their lives. But what does the author himself think about the TV show that so heavily pays homage to his works?
The Duffer Brothers originally wanted to direct the ‘IT’ reboot movies
Fascinatingly enough, The Duffer Brothers tried to write the movie remake of King’s classic 1986 novel, IT. The colossal book about The Losers’ Club significantly influenced their lives, and out of all of King’s books, they say it left the most significant mark.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, the Stranger Things creators are asked which book lingers the most.
“It’s probably IT for both of us,” says Ross Duffer. “It’s the big one, and IT is obviously a huge inspiration for the show. That’s probably the biggest. I think just because we’re the age of those characters when we’re reading it, so it’s not that his other books aren’t amazing, they were.”
Because Warner Brothers rejected them from adapting IT into a movie, they decided to make their own series. That’s where Stranger Things comes into the picture.
“Growing up, he was such an inspiration,” the Duffer Brothers say, referring to King. “He’s like a God to us, so it’s just been serial communicating with him at all.”
Stephen King has his own opinion on ‘Stranger Things’
No one can deny all the similarities between The Party from Stranger Things and The Losers’ Club from IT. Both stories center around a band of misfits who must save their town from supernatural forces. The Party and The Losers’ Club have an obsession with riding bikes, the 1980s, and Finn Wolfhard. And because the Netflix series and King’s story are so similar, one might wonder what the author himself thinks about Stranger Things.
So what does the Master of Horror think?
“I like [Stranger Things] a lot,” King tells Rolling Stone. “But it does owe something to IT,” the author says. “That’s another book about kids who are weak and helpless by themselves — but together can make something that is very strong.”
In several tweets, King reveals how much he loves the TV show. He gives his stamp of approval to the Duffer Brothers’ series by saying how fun the Netflix show is, and how excellent Winona Ryder is as Joyce Byers.
“Stranger Things is Pure fun,” he tweets. “A+. Don’t miss it. Winona Ryder shines.”
A line from ‘Stranger Things’ made Stephen King fall off his chair from laughing so hard
In a separate tweet, King says that he laughed so hard at one of the jokes on the show that he fell out of his chair. He writes, “STRANGER THINGS: ‘Commence Operation Child Endangerment.’ I fell off my chair.”
And finally, the author announces to the Twitter-verse that watching Stranger Things sometimes feels like watching the best of Stephen King. He says, “Watching Stranger Things is like watching Steve King’s greatest hits. I mean that in a good way.”
