The credits rolled on One Last Adventure, and the internet exploded. Forget demogorgons; this time, the monster was lurking in plain sight. Was that…ChatGPT open on one of the Duffer brothers’ computers?
The documentary, meant to pull back the curtain on the making of Stranger Things 5, inadvertently sparked a new inferno of speculation. Now, Martina Radwan, the director behind One Last Adventure, is speaking out.
The Screen Heard Round the World
Think about the last time you were in a meeting. Someone’s laptop is open, a dozen tabs fighting for space. It’s easy to misinterpret what someone is working on when glancing at their screen. In the documentary, viewers spied what appeared to be ChatGPT tabs on a computer in the writers’ room as the team, including the Duffer Brothers, raced to finish the script for episode eight, “The Rightside Up.”
Speaking with the Hollywood Reporter, Radwan was directly asked if she witnessed generative AI being used by the show’s writers. Her response? A fair question: “I mean, are we even sure they had ChatGPT open?”
She continued, “Well, there’s a lot of chatter where [social media users] are like, ‘We don’t really know, but we’re assuming.’ But to me it’s like, doesn’t everybody have it open, to just do quick research?”
(The answer is likely no, but that’s beside the point.)
How can ChatGPT be used to write a storyline?
Radwan makes a valid distinction between research and scriptwriting. “How can you possibly write a storyline with 19 characters and use ChatGPT, I don’t even understand.”
She added: “Again, first of all, nobody has actually proved that it was open. That’s like having your iPhone next to your computer while you’re writing a story. We just use these tools … while multitasking. So there’s a lot going on all the time, every time. What I find heartbreaking is everybody loves the show, and suddenly we need to pick it apart.” The scrutiny, for her, feels like a betrayal.
Inside the Writers’ Room: Art or Artifice?
I once watched a painter create a masterpiece. They mixed colors, stepped back, and then furiously scribbled notes on a napkin. The creative process isn’t always linear; it’s messy, chaotic, and deeply personal. Radwan—who spent a year filming Stranger Things—stated that she never saw generative AI being used to unethically write the show.
“No, of course not. I witnessed creative exchanges. I witnessed conversation. People think ‘writers room’ means people are sitting there writing. No, it’s a creative exchange. It’s story development,” she said. “And, of course, you go places in your creative mind and then you come back [to the script]. I think being in the writers room is such a privilege and such a gift to be able to witness that.” It’s a delicate ecosystem, easily disrupted by accusations.
Radwan also addressed other eyebrow-raising scenes in One Last Adventure, including “Conformity Gate.” Read the full piece at THR.
What is Conformity Gate?
Without getting too lost in the weeds, “Conformity Gate” refers to a scene in the documentary where some viewers felt the writers were pressured to conform to certain narrative expectations. It’s another example of fans dissecting the creative process.
io9 has reached out to Netflix for comment on the ChatGPT allegations and whether generative AI was used in the Stranger Things writing process. We will update this post should we hear back.
Want more io9 news? Check out when to expect the latest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s next for the DC Universe on film and TV, and everything you need to know about the future of Doctor Who.
The Algorithmic Muse: A Double-Edged Sword?
The use of AI in creative fields is like a tightrope walk: the allure of efficiency versus the risk of homogenization. Are we entering an age where algorithms become ghostwriters, subtly shaping our stories? And if so, does that diminish the human element that makes those stories resonate?
What tools do Stranger Things writers use?
While the specific tools used by the Stranger Things writers haven’t been exhaustively listed, it’s safe to assume they use standard screenwriting software, collaborative document platforms, and, like many of us, probably keep a browser window open for quick fact-checking. The presence of a ChatGPT tab doesn’t confirm usage, but it does raise interesting questions.
Ultimately, the “ChatGPT Gate” controversy may be a tempest in a teapot, or perhaps a harbinger of larger questions about the role of AI in entertainment. Has this peek behind the curtain tainted your enjoyment of the show?