Stranger Things was one of the biggest unexpected TV show success stories of 2016. In a year that was full of shocking surprises, the sci-fi series launched as a new Netflix original and surged straight to the top of ‘must watch’ lists around the globe. From co-creators and directors the Duffer brothers (Matt and Ross Duffer), the show brought a slew of young talent to the forefront - as Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp made themselves household names.

Following the story of Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder), a woman who was plagued with losing her son Will, it soon became apparent that this wasn’t your regular abduction story, but one with a dark twist - as monsters and demons from another world threatened to invade Earth and consume the souls of those that got too close. Now, following its official season 2 order back in 2016, information is beginning to trickle out to fans who are hunting for hints as to what to expect when the show makes its return.

In new photos from the Stranger Things season 2 set in Atlanta, new character ‘Mad Max’ (as alluded to by the working title of season 2’s premiere) can be seen; a teenage girl described as “tough and confident… [whose] appearance, behaviour and pursuits seem more typical of boys than of girls in this era”, who generally uses a skateboard to get around everywhere. The cast of the show can also be seen filming outside fronts made up to look like retro arcades, as you can see below:

Here is Sadie, one of the new #StrangerThings characters. pic.twitter.com/ZYvsLLDmZK— Atlanta Filming (@AtlantaFilming) February 24, 2017

@Stranger_Things filming in my hometown of Douglasville, GA again#StrangerThings #readyforseason2 pic.twitter.com/t3Be7V6tZ9— Harmony Joy (@Harmony__Joy) February 23, 2017

The setting proves that Stranger Things and those behind the show aren’t forgetting their roots. Part of what made the first season so successful is the 1980s influence, so to see that continue to trickle down into the upcoming slew of new episodes is very encouraging.

Exactly what makes new character Max so ‘mad’ remains to be seen. The working title could simply be a hat tip in the direction of one of the original Mad Max movies (namely Mad Max Beyond Thunderdome, released in 1985), or a hint of things to come. There’s every chance Max could be more than a sweet-looking teenage girl; could we see her as one of the new season’s primary antagonists?

In saying that, would fans get behind a young female villain? The Demogorgon that looked to threaten the lives of Will and co. in season 1 caused an almighty stir with viewers, terrifying many who watched. Would another Big Bad from the world of Dungeons & Dragons better suffice to fill the role in season 2? Let us know what you think!

NEXT: Everything We Know About Stranger Things Season 2 (So Far)

Stranger Things season 2 comes to Netflix in time for Halloween, 2017.

Source: Twitter (1, 2)