Duffer Brothers Reveal Third Season of Stranger Things “Will Focus Exclusively On The Street Gang From Episode Seven”

In an unexpected press conference outside the Netflix offices in Los Angeles, creators of the smash sci-fi series Stranger Things describe their plans for the future of the show.

DUFFER BROTHER ONE: Thanks for coming today. We know it seems like Season Two was just released…

DUFFER BROTHER TWO: And thanks for the great response we’ve been hearing — it’s so gratifying to have our work appreciated.

BROTHER ONE: We have a great team, and we want to keep telling stories the public enjoys.

BROTHER TWO: Which brings us to today.

BROTHER ONE: Going into Season Two, we challenged ourselves to expand the Stranger Things universe, not just revisit the same material. I’d say… it paid off.

Brief applause.

BROTHER ONE: Thank you. Thanks. Moving forward, we knew we had to push ourselves even farther.

BROTHER TWO: We owe that to you. One thing was clear to us: whatever followed Season Two would have to blow you away.

BROTHER ONE: And that’s why we’re here to announce that Stranger Things Season Three will focus exclusively on the street gang introduced in ‘The Lost Sister’.

BOTH DUFFERS pull away sheet to reveal promotional image of gang members posed around Stranger Things 3 logo.

Balloon drop.

Press is silent.

BROTHER TWO: But let’s talk about how we got here. [To BROTHER ONE] Remember? We were at home…

BROTHER ONE: We had returned from the Season Two premiere party, still riding high from the evening. I was in a bean bag chair reading Ready Player One and he was playing AIR-SEA BATTLE on an Atari 2600 with a 2-XL nearby.

BROTHER TWO: He looked over and said, “…so, what’s next?”

BROTHER ONE: It was instinctive. We both shouted…

BOTH: “STREET GANG!”

BROTHER ONE: We all had that experience, right? Watching the credits roll on the end of Season Two… all I felt was this overwhelming sense of… loss.

BROTHER TWO: “WHERE is the street gang? Are they safe? What crazy adventure will they tumble into next?”

BROTHER ONE: “Will Axel come to terms with his rage? Will Funshine be accepted by society?”

BROTHER TWO: “Will Dottie… make progress with, you know, her stuff?”

BROTHER ONE: There’s that feeling in your gut when you hit character pay dirt. We know the public feels the same.

BROTHER TWO: Come on… how many of you expected to see the gang show up at the high school Snow Ball?

A clap.

BROTHER ONE: Think about it. When we last saw The Funshine Bunch —

BROTHER TWO: They’re called The Funshine Bunch.

BROTHER ONE: — they were abandoning their cool spray-painted loft hideout.

BROTHER TWO: Oh man, I was bummed to lose that location. The hideout was dangerous, but fun, you know? If that were my hideout I would be there all the time.

BROTHER ONE: He asked to keep the set.

BROTHER TWO: But they had dismantled it.

BROTHER ONE: So, they’re on the run from the hideout, planning to take revenge on everyone who wronged them. From here, we literally can go anywhere.

BROTHER TWO: Remember our 30-page document about the Upside-Down?

BROTHER ONE: Which we threw out since we’re never going back there.

BROTHER TWO: Well, that was nothing. We have a 270-page document on the Funshine Bunch. We know why that character is called ‘Funshine’.

BROTHER ONE: And cannot wait to tell you.

BROTHER TWO: Alright! Questions.

Pause.

PRESS: Do you think this decision will invite any… backlash?

BROTHER ONE: Backlash? No way. If there was one element from Season Two that resonated with fans, without a doubt, it was the street gang.

BROTHER TWO: And that’s fans everywhere. Fans around the world, one voice, calling out for the same thing…

BOTH: “Tell us more about the street gang!”

BROTHER ONE: Thinking about the end of the season, what else would even be worth following?

Pause.

PRESS: How about the shadow monster hovering over the school?

BROTHER ONE: Huh. [Looks to BROTHER TWO.]

BROTHER TWO: I can see why you could think that, but — without forcing our interpretation on everyone, ’cause I know part of the fun is deciding what it means to you — I would say, that was more like the shadow monster was… checking in.

BROTHER ONE: Yeah, like a parting wink between friendly rivals. “Ya got me, kids!” Not much else there.

BROTHER TWO: As opposed to the street gang, who — along with being an exciting new toy box of characters — are such an accurate depiction of punk life in the 80’s.

BROTHER ONE: True. We got lucky there.

PRESS: So, to clarify, Season Three will spend no time in Hawkins, Indiana?

BOTH: No.

PRESS: Not with Will, Dustin, Mike?

BOTH: No.

PRESS: Nothing with Hopper?

BROTHER ONE: Who?

PRESS: Hopper.

BROTHER TWO: [to ONE] The sheriff character.

BROTHER ONE: Oh! No. [Laughs.] Look at that, I’ve already forgotten him!

BROTHERS both laugh.

PRESS: How about Eleven, who did spend time with the street gang?

BROTHER TWO: Now that is an interesting prospect. Yeah, I could see Eleven stopping by.

BROTHER ONE: Maybe they have an upcoming heist and need Eleven’s powers, so, I don’t know, they mentally contact her and she visits for an episode.

BROTHER TWO: Like when Lilith would show up on Frasier.

BROTHER ONE: Yeah, like that.

PRESS: Have you shared the new direction with Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Winona Ryder… all the series regulars?

BROTHER ONE: Former regulars.

BROTHER TWO: We told them we won’t need them anymore. Their character arcs are over.

BROTHER ONE: I dare say, they agreed with us. I mean, who wants to see Steve Harrington continue to find himself?

A hand is raised, then lowered.

BROTHER ONE: Anyway! As you recall with Season Two, we generated some buzz by releasing the episode titles in advance…

BROTHER TWO: So we figured we’d try that again today.

DUFFERS pull away sheet to reveal second promotional sign with episode titles. Remaining balloons are dislodged and fall.

BROTHER ONE: Keep in mind, we haven’t plotted out the arc of the season. These are like… guideposts.

BROTHER TWO: Right.

BROTHERS read titles aloud.

BROTHER ONE: Here Comes The Gang.

BROTHER TWO: The Gang Secures A New Hideout.

BROTHER ONE: More Details About The New Hideout.

BROTHER TWO: Why ‘Funshine’ Is Called ‘Funshine’.

BROTHER ONE: A Mission Where The Gang Needs Eleven For An Upcoming Heist.

BROTHER TWO: And the season finale: The Gang’s All Here— A Stranger Things Christmas.

BROTHER ONE: The season ends on Christmas.

PRESS: So does The Gang’s All Here—

BROTHER ONE: —the title does not mean previous characters will appear, other than the street gang.

Silence.

BROTHER ONE: We have merchandise prototypes to share! [Produces bald cap with mohawk.] Now everyone can look like their favorite lovable hothead, Axel.

BROTHER TWO: Great for cosplay.

Mohawk cap is tossed into crowd, not caught.

BROTHER ONE: [Produces red and black checked flannel shirt.] Remember this? It’s an exact replica of the shirt worn by… Stacy? Was it Stacy?

BROTHER TWO: I think it was Linda.

BROTHER ONE: Linda or Jollypop. Anyway, you can look just like that character.

BROTHER ONE drops shirt to floor.

BROTHER TWO: By now I think it’s clear we’re excited to get started on this new chapter of the Stranger Things franchise… so, any last questions?

PRESS: Is it too soon to talk about Season Four?

BROTHER ONE: Never too soon! Now, I wouldn’t want to lock us into any commitments…

BROTHER TWO: But, on the off chance we lose interest in the street gang…

PRESS: …a return to Hawkins?

BROTHER TWO: …no. Eight episodes of Eleven’s mother rocking back and forth.

BROTHER ONE: It’s the logical choice.

BROTHER TWO: Thanks for coming, everybody!

BROTHER ONE: There’s a Rubik’s Cube for each of you by the door.

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