Stranger Things Stars Narrowly Escaped Death, Reveal Showrunners

As the highly anticipated fifth and final season of Stranger Things approaches, showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer have disclosed which of the main characters came closest to meeting their demise in past seasons.

According to the Duffers, Jim Hopper, played by David Harbour, was the character who came the closest to dying, particularly at the end of season 3. "There was a version where he perished at the end of 3," Matt Duffer reveals. However, the showrunners ultimately decided to keep Hopper alive, as they felt he still had more story to tell.

The Duffers also mention that Steve Harrington, portrayed by Joe Keery, was another character who narrowly escaped death back in season 1. "That was close," says Matt Duffer. "We just fell in love with Joe Keery, but had we not liked Joe Keery, Steve would've been gone."

While the Duffer brothers admit they frequently discuss killing off main characters, they are cautious about the repercussions such decisions would have on the overall tone of the show. "What often holds us back is you have to talk about the repercussions," explains Matt Duffer. "It just makes the show rather depressing and bleak, and it becomes entirely about that."

As the Stranger Things saga nears its conclusion, fans can expect the final season to deliver high-stakes drama and potentially more character deaths. However, the Duffers are committed to ensuring that any such losses have a meaningful impact on the story and the remaining characters.