The Duffer Brothers respond to controversial Stranger Things fan petition calling for release of ‘uncut’ finale
Topics: Stranger Things, Netflix, Film and TV
Phoebe Tonks
Featured Image Credit: Jerod Harris/Getty Images for Netflix
Topics: Stranger Things, Netflix, Film and TV
As Stranger Things fans continue to process the end of the iconic Netflix series and its explosive finale, show creators The Duffer Brothers have hit out at a petition claiming that hundreds of hours were cut from the epic conclusion.
Fans of the hit sci-fi series were treated to the concluding part of the almost ten-year saga on New Year’s Day, when the fifth and final series came to a definitive end.
Yet while many fans were delighted by the way the show tied up its intricate storylines, some fans felt that there was a great deal missing – so much so, a petition soon emerged online demanding that Netflix release the 'full uncut' version of the series finale.
The petition, which has since garnered over 380,000 signatures, accuses Netflix and the Duffer Brothers of withholding key scenes that could have changed the outcome of the show for several characters.
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The petition all stems from a Google Doc that began circulating online, which claims to have made a definitive list of all the scenes that were shot and removed – this includes several alleged interactions between Will and Mike following Will’s coming out scene.
However, despite the claims of such footage existing, The Duffer Brothers have since confirmed this is not the case, as they went on the record to shut down rumours of a mythical trove of extended footage that ended up on the cutting room floor.
Speaking to Variety, Matt Duffer referenced the alleged document as he told the publication: “Someone sent it to us, yeah. Obviously, that’s not a real thing.”
Ross Duffer then added: “I have not seen [the petition]. I don’t think there’s a single cut scene in the entire season.”
Before Matt continued: “The show has just grown so massive. Online, there’s just so much misinformation. Just tons of it. We would be here for hours trying to bat down the stuff that was not true.
“But at the end of the day, hopefully the work speaks for itself, and it is the show that Ross and I wanted to make.
“Netflix was, and has always been, incredible. I mean, there’s no interference or direction at all from them on us. They really trust us, and that’s been true from Season 1 on.
“It’s never changed, even though the show and the size of the audience have grown.”