Did you spend hours dissecting the Stranger Things finale, desperately searching for clues about the upcoming spin-off? You weren't alone! Fans worldwide were buzzing, especially after that Montauk reference. But hold on, because the Duffer Brothers just dropped a bombshell that might change everything you thought you knew.
The creators of the beloved Netflix hit, Ross and Matt Duffer, have officially weighed in on a major fan theory regarding the setting of the highly anticipated Stranger Things spin-off. Following the emotionally charged finale of the original series – which saw the Hawkins crew finally face off against Vecna (masterfully played by Jamie Campbell Bower) and the horrors of the Upside Down – viewers were left both satisfied and craving more.
Remember that heartwarming epilogue? We saw glimpses of our favorite characters eighteen months into the future. Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce (Winona Ryder), after five seasons of near-misses and terrifying encounters, finally get their romantic dinner at Enzo's. And then, the proposal! Cue the soaring backing vocals and collective sighs of relief from viewers everywhere, as reported by The Mirror.
But here's where it gets controversial... During that very date, Hopper casually mentions a potential job opportunity in Montauk, New York, thanks to a friend. He hints at a possible opening for a chief of police. Suddenly, the internet exploded with speculation! Could Montauk be the setting for the spin-off? After all, it would give Hopper and Joyce a fresh start.
Social media was ablaze. One X user excitedly posted: "WAIT HOPPER WANTS TO GO TO MONTAUK?!!! #montauk that is where the whole story of Papa's Dad started. Is that the spinoff town?!!!" Another fan chimed in: "Oh you caught that huh? Montauk is the Easter egg for the next spinoff." Were these fans on to something?
And this is the part most people miss... The Duffer Brothers, in a post-finale interview with Deadline, have unfortunately put those Montauk dreams to rest. While the reference is significant, it's not what everyone hoped.
Ross Duffer clarified that the Montauk mention was simply a playful nod to the show's origins. Believe it or not, Stranger Things was originally conceived as a supernatural drama titled Montauk back in 2015, before the setting was changed to the fictional Hawkins, Indiana. It was a treat for those 'deep-cut' fans, as they called them.
"I don't know if I want to, but I will say, though, it's not Hopper mentioning Montauk. There's no Montauk spinoff. That was more of a wink to the fans, deep-cut fans that know that the show started as Montauk," Ross Duffer stated.
So, if it's not Montauk, what is the spin-off about? The Duffer Brothers are keeping tight-lipped, but they did offer a few intriguing hints.
The co-showrunner emphasized that the spin-off would be something "much smaller" than a continuation of the main story. "It's obviously not Holly (Nell Fisher) and the kids or anything like that. It's something much smaller than that. We've said this before, the spinoff idea we have, it is early days, but it is an entirely new mythology."
In other words, prepare for something completely different.
But don't despair! The new series will be connected to Stranger Things in some way. "So, it is connected, and it is going to answer some questions that people have, and there's some lingering questions that weren't answered in the finale that will be answered in the spinoff. But at the end of the day, it's got its own story and its own mythology."
Ross Duffer previously told Variety that there will be some connective tissue between the shows, but it won't be a carbon copy of Star Wars with constantly overlapping characters and locations.
Here's the real kicker: the Duffers have revealed that there's a hidden clue about the new series somewhere in the Stranger Things finale. This has sent fans into a frenzy, rewatching the episode frame by frame in search of answers.
So, the question remains: What is the big clue? And what kind of "new mythology" can we expect from the spin-off? Is it possible that the Duffers are intentionally misleading us and Montauk will play a role in some way? Could a new character from the spin-off have been subtly introduced in the finale? Share your theories and predictions in the comments below! We want to know what you think!
