Stranger Things merchandise
The 1980s in Indiana, USA: in the town of Hawkins, the young Will Beyers disappears. Almost at the same time, the mysterious Eleven appears, who has seemingly inexplicable powers. His friends and Eleven go on a search together. In 2016, the Netflix series Stranger Things caused a stir. Far from classic film & TV, the streaming service presented a nostalgic homage to the films & series of the 80s, which was perfect for binge-watching. Stranger Things was a modern cult hit that kept millions of viewers glued to their screens.
Stranger Things is thanks to the creative team of the Duffer Brothers. Matt and Ross Duffer not only developed the concept for the series, but were also involved in its implementation as producers, directors and writers. The showrunners were able to gain initial experience in the industry through works such as Hidden (2015) and Wayward Pines (2015). Their 2016 Netflix series was undoubtedly influenced by the popular film and series productions of the 80s, both in terms of content and visuals.
Of course, the first name that comes to mind is Steven Spielberg, who had a significant cultural influence on the 80s with films such as ET - The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) and as producer of Gremlins (1984), The Goonies (1985) and Back to the Future (1985). The small-town feel of Stephen King's novels also finds its creative echo in the successful format. The Duffer Brothers' series does not skimp on visible references to the big role models. The series also plays with various genres such as science fiction, horror and coming-of-age.
A fun fact about the creation of the series: Originally, it was supposed to be called Montauk - and set in Montauk, New York. Here, the connections to Spielberg's creations would have been even clearer, after all, Montauk was the setting for his blockbuster Jaws (1975). But after changes, it was decided to establish the fictional town of Hawkins. However, in their official pitch of the film to studios, the Duffer Brothers included images from films such as ET, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Stand by Me, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Jaws - obvious inspirations for the series.
Stranger Things paved the way for a group of talented young actors: Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Noah Schnapp and Gaten Matarazzo took on central roles. Actors such as Charlie Heaton, Natalia Dyer and Joe Keery also came into the spotlight thanks to the series. At the same time, the streaming highlight did not skimp on well-known names. The cast was completed by actors such as Winona Ryder and David Harbour, with supporting roles for other 80s heroes such as Sean Astin (The Goonies) and Cary Elwes (The Princess Bride).
The success of the American production was not only reflected in the number of viewers, which broke Netflix records in season three (over 40 million households watched the third season in the first four days), but also in numerous awards. Most notable here are the Primetime Emmy Awards, which are well known to cinephiles, nerds and geeks, of which the successful series won seven after the third season. The cast also received a Screen Actors Guild Award. These merits were complemented by several Golden Globe nominations.
The first three seasons of the successful series were produced between 2016 and 2019, with seasons 2 and 3 not actually being called seasons, but rather parts 2 and 3 - following the example of famous film sequels. The implementation took more and more time: while there was only a year between the broadcasts of the first two seasons, part 3 followed in 2019, two years after the previous season. And a longer waiting period is also expected for the fourth season, which was produced from 2020 to the summer months of 2021. However, given the state of the world in 2021, this is hardly surprising.
But until the sequel to the series is released, fans can take a look at merchandise from the Duffer Brothers' narrative universe. Stranger Things has long since outgrown its existence as a series. With the release of the series, for example, Netflix created an after-show with interviews and exclusive insights. Art books and companion series have also been published in the world of books - including classic novels.
Comics and tabletop games are omnipresent in the Stranger Things narrative universe. So it's not surprising that Dark Horse Comics presented a whole series of international publications related to the series. The graphic novel Stranger Things : Six was released, as was the release Stranger Things and Dungeons & Dragons. Dungeons & Dragons is a good keyword, as the famous tabletop game appears by name in the series - also with reference to the Demogorgon from Dungeons & Dragons. So it's not surprising that there is a crossover between Dungeons & Dragons and the successful series. Fans can also look forward to a crossover between the Netflix production and Magic: The Gathering's Secret Lair series.
Whether on consoles or smartphones: the series has also fully arrived in the world of video games. The mobile game of the same name was released for Android and iOS in 2017. Gamers and series junkies were also able to experience the Duffer Brothers' narrative universe in VR - with a spin-off for the PS4 VR headset. And LEGO also insisted on integrating the successful Netflix format into its portfolio as merch with sets like The Other Side.
Film freaks of the 80s and series junkies with a penchant for the Netflix sci-fi series will also get their money's worth in the yvolve online shop. The products for passionate nerds range from clothing to accessories to decorations. The fan articles of the popular series are also ideal as gifts for friends and acquaintances. For example, the yvolve shop has notebooks such as the VHS notebook with stickers from the Netflix series cosmos. A puzzle as well as posters and art prints are also recommended for passionate fans of the series. The I Survived Hawkins color-changing mug presents a very special design among the mugs.
From T-shirts, caps to figures, lamps and bags, yvolve has fan articles and merchandise for geeks and film freaks from a wide range of film and TV highlights. The US series is also right up there with items that are especially worthwhile for fans - even as gifts. Just take a look at the Stranger Things category at yvolve and let your fan heart be enchanted by magical merch related to the series highlight Stranger Things .
