It’s been a long wait, but fans of Stranger Things only have to hang on a little while longer: the hit Netflix series returns with its second season in just under a month. In the meantime, show creators Matt and Ross Duffer have let slip some details about the next installment of their series – including what’s in store with the enormous octopus-like monster that will appear in the new episodes.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, the Duffer brothers said they took a new approach while they were brainstorming a new creature for season 2. While season 1 featured the predatory demogorgon, the brothers wanted a monster that was a little smarter – and far more dangerous.
When talking about comparing the two creatures, Matt Duffer said, “Our big reference for [the demogorgon in] season 1 was mostly Jaws. It’s a shark, and the other dimension is the underwater. So [in season 2] there has to be something more sentient and that’s that big thing in the sky.” The brothers also cited renowned horror author and monster-creator H.P. Lovecraft as major inspiration for their new season.
According to the two brothers, the key to understanding this new mysterious monster will be Will Byers, who is now suffering from intense PTSD from his experiences in the Upside Down back in season 1 and has recurring visions of the alternate dimension. “I think the difference [with season 2] is you don’t really see how it’s all tied together until later,” Ross Duffer commented. “But it’s all connected to this singular threat which is tied into this shape that Will sees in the sky. Will is the way through which we’re able to understand what’s going on.”
Over the summer, Netflix confirmed that it has already green-lit season 3 for Stranger Things, indicating that there are good things to come with this latest season. Until then, Entertainment Weekly also released new photos this week that lets fans take a peek at what their favorite characters will look like and what they’ll be up to come season 2.
Stranger Things season 2 returns to Netflix on October 27.