Stranger Things delay a "blessing" for the writers
Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy Wheeler in the hit horror series, has opened up about the show's current hiatus.
Think the corona-caused delay of Stranger Things is a huge setback to fans? Maybe. But as one of the show’s stars recently said, the setback could be a secret “blessing” for the writers.
Speaking recently about the Netflix horror’s downtime, Nancy Wheeler actor Natalia Dyer opened up about how the delay may ease the usual on-the-go nature of the scriptwriting. “Normally, we get the first few scripts, and then [showrunners The Duffer Brothers] have to keep writing due to the schedule of it. And it takes a while to craft a script,” she told THR.
“So, normally, there’s a kind of ‘writing as we’re going’ but it seems they’ve had enough time. I think it’s maybe been a blessing for the writers, in some way, because they had the time to just sit down, think and create.”
In fact, although filming was suspended in mid-March, the writers on the show indicated on Twitter that scripts for the entire season were only finished in June.
Although Dyer didn’t suggest when production may resume on the show, she did reveal the lengthy break was unexpected.
“At first, it was like, ‘Okay, we’re going to go on a two-week hiatus,’ and then, it was like, ‘Okay, we’re really going to go on a hiatus,’” she said.
“It’s kind of wild to think about because it’s something that you look forward to so much, and there’s so much preparation and excitement around it. And then, we start and stop. And now, it's been quite a while. But I’m very, very excited for when we do go back.”
She added: “I’m excited by the scripts. I’m excited for everything that this season is going to be.”
According to David Harbour (who plays Chief Jim Hopper on the Netflix drama), the fourth season was “was supposed to come out early next year”, but the release date would “probably be pushed back” in wake of the filming delays.
Stranger Things season 4 has been delayed, but seasons 1-3 are now available on Netflix.
You can also check out the best Netflix series and best Netflix movies to keep you entertained or visit to our TV guide for more to watch.
Authors
Thomas is Digital editor at BBC Science Focus. Writing about everything from cosmology to anthropology, he specialises in the latest psychology, health and neuroscience discoveries. Thomas has a Masters degree (distinction) in Magazine Journalism from the University of Sheffield and has written for Men’s Health, Vice and Radio Times. He has been shortlisted as the New Digital Talent of the Year at the national magazine Professional Publishers Association (PPA) awards. Also working in academia, Thomas has lectured on the topic of journalism to undergraduate and postgraduate students at The University of Sheffield.