Summary
As soon as Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) disappeared in the pilot episode ofNetflix’sStranger Things, fans were hooked, and the story drew immediate comparisons toStephen King’s beloved work. Although not everyone loved theending of one of King’s most well-known novels, the author has had an incredible career withcountless dark, memorable, and moving stories adapted for the big and small screen. If someone enjoys tales about child characters who stand up to evil and form deep friendships that carry them through adulthood, or they like seeing kids with unique powers, chances are they’ve seen every episode ofStranger Thingsand are big King readers, too.
Stephen King’s interviews are always compelling as he’s always honest about how he feels about adaptations of his work, and it’s always great to get a glimpse into his creative process. A few years ago, the authorshared his thoughts on comparisons between his bookITandStranger Things, and his comments make perfect sense.
What Did Stephen King Say About Comparisons Between Stranger Things And IT?
In a 2017 interview withEntertainment Weekly,Stephen King was asked about the popularity of his creepy clown storyIT.The first movie was released in 2017, and the sequel came out in 2019. When asked if the surge in popularity could have been because fans were enjoyingStranger Thingsseason 1, which premiered on Netflix in 2016, King said:
“I think thatStranger Thingsmight’ve had something to do with it…”
The author then dove into comparisons between his work and the Netflix sci-fi series about kids in Hawkins, the Upside Down, and all the creatures found there. King continued:
“because so much ofStranger Thingsreminds me of stuff that I’ve written. But I think that played a part. Obviously the idea of a bunch of kids fighting a supernatural terror just sort of appealed to people, and they saw a chance to root for the good guys, which doesn’t always happen in horror movies.”
It’s fascinating to hear King’s take on this subject, and his perspective makes sense. Fans definitely loveITandStranger Thingsbecause ofthe kind, underdog characters who fight evil and try to save each other. Although the events ofITare confined to Derry, Maine and it’spossible that the evil in Hawkins will affect the rest of the world, both stories have a similar tone. As King pointed out, masked villains and paranormal entities often kill likable horror movie characters before audiences have a chance to fully cheer them on. Of course, final girls are the exception.
If theITandStranger Thingschild characters were all part of the same story, it’s easy to imagine them becoming close friends and being on the same team. There are also some interesting comparisons between King’s villainPennywise, who has connections toThe Dark Tower,andVecna (Jamie Campbell Bower). They both have a disturbing ability to manipulate their intended victims, and they both target child characters.
Stephen King and the Duffer Brothers are mutual fans of each other, although Stephen King once shared how he felt about one aspect of the previous season. According toDigital Spy,King tweeted his praise forStranger Thingsseason 4in 2022, although he didn’t love that the season was split up into two parts. That’s a fair piece of criticism andfans wonder if season 5 is going to be separated, too.
The Duffer Brothers appreciate Stephen King’s work, and they gave an interview toDeadlineand shared the original idea behind their hit Netflix series. Ross Duffer said:
“The original pitch forStranger Thingswas, what if Stephen Spielberg is filming a long lost Stephen King book you’ve never read?”
Stephen King & Stranger Things Fans Have A Lot To Look Forward To
Fans of Stephen King’s work can check out hisupcoming adaptationsThe Life of Chuck,which will be released on June 6th, 2025,andThe Long Walk, which comes out September 12th, 2025. Fans ofITwill also get the chance to dive back into this dark and creepy world whenthe HBO prequel seriesIT: Welcome to Derrycomes out in 2025.
Of course,Stranger Thingsseason 5 is also coming in 2025, although no one is quite sure when it will be released. At the time of this writing, it’s been three years since season 4 arrived on Netflix and the series further explored Vecna’s evil rise to power.
