Netflix Wanted 'Stranger Things' Seasons 3 & 4 Back-To-Back

There is no question that “Stranger Things” is a centerpiece show for Netflix, and as such, the streaming service is maximizing the hugely popular series as much as they can. Beyond giving creators and directors Matt and Ross Duffer the space to work their magic, Netflix also knows that the brand can keep generating big money through licensing, and they’ve already inked deals with Funko, Trends International, McFarlane Toys, and Hybrid Apparel to roll out merchandise for the second season. However, even Netflix doesn’t get everything they want.

With the central cast of “Stranger Things” all in those teenager years where how they look can quickly change, Netflix was hoping to keep the look of the ensemble as consistent as possible. So, they pitched the idea of shooting seasons three and four back-to-back. It was not received well.

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Not only did the Duffers push back on the idea, so too did producer Shawn Levy. Why? It would put too much strain on the writers’ room, who would struggle to essentially double their workload to shoot two seasons straight. Even for the current season, which runs nine episodes, one longer than the first season, stretched the Duffers to their limit.

“I think we’re going to try to go back to eight . Because I just remember even when we were writing, and we’re like, ‘Oh, we have one more script.’ We were all like about to pass out. Like somehow, that extra script just made everyone’s lives very difficult,” Matt Duffer told us earlier this year. “I think people want us to keep doing more, but you know for us, it’s all about quality control. Like people want, television particularly, they want it on this annual cycle. Movie sequels never come out on an annual cycle, unless they’re shooting back to back.”

It’s a wise move, and every step of the way, the Duffers have been very careful about making the right choices for “Stranger Things,” instead of succumbing to the pressures of popularity.

“Stranger Things” season 2 arrives on October 27th. [THR]