Since making its Netflix debut in Summer 2016, Stranger Things has become one of the most popular series in the world. While 80’s nostalgia and D&D oriented themes have something to do with it, its dynamic characters have be praised by fans and critics alike. And while everyone has a favorite (for me it’s Steve), there’s no doubt that Eleven is a the standout of the show.
In a recent appearance at a Master Class Q&A session at Chapman University, the Duffer brothers revealed that their original intention was to kill off the fan favorite at the end of the first season, making Eleven’s sacrifice permanent
“Maybe I shouldn’t say this because I like to pretend that it was all planned out, but it was originally pitched as a limited series. So it was like, Eleven was gonna sacrifice herself and save the world and then that was gonna be it, because there was a moment where limited series were a big deal.”
The way her death was set up could have proved for a somewhat conclusive end to the series, as a one-off, but there were still plenty of questions left lingering. The Stranger Things creators eventually pitched the idea of continuing the show to Netflix, who approved.
So far, The Duffer’s have been pretty transparent about their goal for the series, aiming to make it go around five or so seasons. While the news of the original idea to kill such a well-loved character may come as a surprise, it’s not the first on the fly decision that has been made regarding a characters fate in the series.
Steve Harrington’s story didn’t always end happily, says @nataliadyer. #StrangerThursdays pic.twitter.com/W6k6GpS7gd
— Stranger Things (@Stranger_Things) September 14, 2017
Steve was originally supposed to die in season one, but Joe Keery’s performance won the brothers over and his character was given more depth. While Sean Astin’s character, Bob Newby, may not have shared the same luck as Steve in the end (dying at the hands of demi-dogs), but he too was supposed to die much earlier than intended, but just like Keery, Astin was too good to kill off that quickly.