The basis for Stranger Things was almost thrown out of the window before the series first went into production. The Duffer Brothers struggled to sell their original sci-fi concept, and the networks they met with suggested they make fundamental changes to the show's premise. If the sci-fi series had found a home other than Netflix, it's very possible that Stranger Things would have turned out very differently, and not in a good way.
Stranger Things first debuted on Netflix in the summer of 2016. The series, which is set in the 1980s and focuses on a group of kids, became an absolute phenomenon. Viewers resonated with the young leads and the heavy level of nostalgia presented in the series. The fan following continued to grow with the debut of season 2 in October 2017. Following the release of season 3 in July 2019, over 64 million households viewed the new Stranger Things installment within the first month.
It's safe to categorize Stranger Things as one of Netflix's most valuable assets, if not their most popular original title to date. That said, there was a time when Netflix wasn't even considered as a potential home for the series. Upon putting their vision together for Stranger Things, the Duffers attempted to sell their script to cable networks; however, their only major projects to date were a film titled Hidden, which failed to reach wide distribution, and writing work on the TV series Wayward Pines. Not only were they rejected by every network they approached, but they were also advised to make specific changes to the script — changes that would have surely ruined the series.
Networks Wanted Hopper, Not The Kids, To Be Stranger Things' Lead
Network executives weren't keen on the idea of Stranger Things being about kids. They didn't like the fact that the series focused on young characters, but it wasn't considered a kids show. In a 2016 interview (via Rolling Stone), the show's creators recalled that they were advised to either "make it into a kids show or make it about this Hopper [detective] character investigating paranormal activity around town." If they decided to focus on Jim Hopper, the networks suggested the Duffer Brothers drop the presence of the kids all together. Seeing as Eleven, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, and Will serve as the driving force behind the award-winning series, it seems like the Duffer Brothers made the right choice by not backing down.
Thankfully, the Duffer Brothers were put in contact with Shawn Levy who loved the script, including its focus on the young characters. The producer purchased the script and partnered with Netflix to develop the project into a full-fledged series. Once the parts were cast, the Duffer Brothers made some adjustments to the script to match the mannerisms and strengths of each character, particularly the kids.
The networks were right about one thing: Hopper's appeal. The Chief of Police has been a fan favorite in the series since season 1. Coincidentally, Hopper's relationship with Eleven served as a bright spot for Stranger Things. This wouldn't have been the case if the Duffer Brothers had compromised their vision for the series and got rid of the kids, as advised by the networks.