‘Stranger Things‘ has surprised fans many times, but a recent behind-the-scenes reveal might be one of the most shocking yet. The creators shared that a major season 4 character almost didn’t make it into the show at all.
And, the reason had nothing to do with the story. It came down to casting, and it nearly changed the entire season.
The ‘Stranger Things’ Character We Almost Lost
In a new interview, Matt and Ross Duffer explained that they struggled more with this casting than almost any other in the series. They always planned for this character to play a big role in the season, but they simply couldn’t find the right person to bring him to life.
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Matt said there had been an early version of the character who felt annoying and just didn’t fit the story. They needed someone with natural charm, someone who could win over the audience right away. As the search dragged on, they started to worry they might have to rewrite the character completely.
They auditioned many actors, but none of them felt right. Matt admitted that for a while, they didn’t think they would ever find the perfect match. Then they watched Joseph Quinn’s audition tape and everything suddenly clicked. Matt said they knew almost instantly that Quinn had something special, something the character needed in order to work.
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Once Quinn started filming, the Duffers felt even more confident. Matt shared that they realized very early on that Quinn brought a unique energy that lifted every scene he was in. Then filming stopped because of the COVID-19 shutdown. Ross explained that this pause actually helped them.
They had only been on set for a few weeks, but seeing Quinn in those early scenes gave them a chance to go back and improve the character during the break. Ross said the pandemic delay allowed them to reshape parts of the story to better match what Quinn brought to the role.
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This meant the character became even more important to the season than originally planned. He went on to connect key story threads, help characters like Nancy figure out major clues, and add emotional depth that fans still talk about today. His bond with Dustin, especially, became one of the season’s most memorable elements.
Thinking about how close ‘Stranger Things‘ came to losing this character feels almost unreal. Many fans consider him one of the best parts of the entire season. His journey made season 4 more powerful and emotional. Some viewers even wish he had shown up earlier in the series. And the Duffers have hinted that they had many more ideas for him if they’d had more time.
Even though he appears only in season 4, his impact continues to shape the story. Many fans expect to feel his presence in season 5 as well. Knowing all this, what Stranger Things 4 would have looked like without him, it shows just how close the show came to losing one of its most iconic characters because the right actor almost wasn’t found.
