The book features a foreword from Matt and Ross Duffer, alongside cast interviews revealing never-before-told stories spanning nearly a decade of production. Readers get insight into how the main stars were cast, the challenges the team navigated, key storytelling decisions, and the ’80s media that inspired the show.
Stranger Things: The Official Story Behind the Legendary Series
After nine years, five seasons, 42 episodes, and more than 1.2 billion total views, Netflix’s blockbuster series Stranger Things officially came to an end. In 2026, we partnered with Netflix and Penguin Random House to celebrate the series with a definitive, deluxe guide giving fans exclusive access to the creators, cast, and crew, with commentary spanning the show’s journey from inception to its thrilling conclusion. Readers also receive a visual feast of concept art, storyboards, prop photography, and set photos.
Directors and Cast Commentary
Maps, Blueprints, and Concept Art
As much as Stranger Things is about its characters, it’s also about the otherworldly Upside Down and the grotesque and amazing monsters within it. We dove deep into the show’s world-building, sourcing imagery from the department heads who brought the show’s fantastical elements to life. The book peels back the layers behind Stranger Things’s mix of CG and practical effects, from Vecna’s makeup process to the original concept art for the Demogorgon, to the maps and set props designed by the production team.
Original Photography
We shot original photography of the iconic locations that became hallmarks of Hawkins—from the quarry to Hopper’s cabin to Billy’s gravestone. We also photographed props and ephemera from the show, including costumes and handwritten messages, to give readers an up-close look at the intricate details of items they only glimpsed on screen.
Secret Website
Leaving nothing off the table, we embedded a secret code within the pages of the book. Solving the code allows readers entry into a hidden website containing 11 bonus images, easter eggs, and never-before-revealed concepts.
