One of Stranger Things season 3's most memorable and talked about moments was Dustin and Suzie's musical duet, but the scene was almost very different. The characters, played by Gaten Matarazzo and Gabriella Pizzolo, respectively, performed a rendition of the theme song from The NeverEnding Story during the season's intense finale. Here's how the scene was changed before it made its debut on Netflix.
The amusing musical moment occurred during the Stranger Things season 3 episode titled "Chapter Eight: The Battle of Starcourt." In order for Hopper and Joyce to complete their mission in the Russian base underground Starcourt Mall, the duo needed the numerical code for Planck's constant. Dustin sought help from his long-distance girlfriend, Suzie. Before she gave up the code, however, she wanted her "Dusty-bun" to sing NeverEnding Story's theme song. He obliged much to the amusement of his friends and obtained the correct code in the end.
The NeverEnding Story premiered in 1984, so it was fitting that the Duffer Brothers chose the theme song for the season that was set in 1985. The song became popular due to the fantasy film, which followed a young boy who found a magical book. That said, the song composed by Giorgio Moroder almost wasn't the top choice for the Stranger Things moment. The Duffers shared that a number of popular songs were considered for the scene and the Ent song from Lord of the Rings was nearly tune in focus. The Lord of the Rings' connection to another streaming service evidently put a stop to that idea.
Why Didn't Stranger Things Use The Song From Lord Of The Rings
Before NeverEnding Story was chosen for Dustin and Suzie, the Ents' marching song was a front-runner. Ents were tree-like creatures from Lord of the Rings that protected the forests from orcs and other threats. In J.R.R. Tolkien's novel, The Two Towers, the Ents chanted through Fangorn Forest as they marched on Isengard. Their chant became known as "The Ents' Marching Song." Considering Amazon is in the process of developing a Lord of the Rings prequel series, the Duffers thought that Netflix might not be sold on using a song from the franchise. To avoid any kind of tension, they took Lord of the Rings off of the table and went with NeverEnding Story.
The scene was a surprising delight, especially for those that weren't aware of Matarazzo's theatre background. His on-screen girlfriend also has extensive experience with Broadway productions and it was clear they had a blast in the scene. Unfortunately for Dustin, the moment resulted in some playful teasing from friends. The song choice probably went over much better than Stranger Things could have ever imagined. It's hard to believe that a song from Lord of the Rings would have had the same effect since the book-based song might not have been as recognizable. It will interesting to see if Dustin and Suzie have another duet up their sleeves in Stranger Things season 4 now that they showcased their talents.