New Stranger Things documentary ‘One Last Adventure’ features multiple revelations, including details of why Finn Wolfhard didn’t get his wish for Mike to use a gun.
One Last Adventure details the making of Stranger Things 5, through behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast and crew.
The two-hour documentary explains why there aren’t Demogorgons in the final battle, and features a heated debate over Eleven’s fate.
There’s also a fascinating scene in the writers’ room concerning Finn Wolfhard’s desire for Mike to brandish a gun, which ultimately gets nixed…
Finn Wolfhard wanted Mike to get more than a candlestick
Ever since Mike Wheeler grabbed a candlestick to fight monsters in Stranger Things Season 1, there’s been a running joke about the character’s lack of firepower.
Finn Wolfhard has spoken about discussing weapons with Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers, and being told: “Don’t you just want the candlestick again?”
The subject rears its head in One Last Adventure, during a conversation in the writers’ room about who should which characters should fight in the the Mind Flayer’s ribcage, and who should have weapons.
Matt Duffer says: ‘The kids, they’ve all expressed to me, Mike, and I think they do have a point, that they would like to take part in that fight. Especially Finn’s like, you know, ‘Don’t give me a candlestick, please.’ Which is fair.”
Duffer adds: “He really wants a gun, and I’m just like ‘I don’t think so.'” To which writers off camera say, “No,” and “no” again, due to to the overarching fear that once Mike picks up a gun, he loses his innocence.
Why no gun was the right call in Stranger Things finale
The result is no gun for Mike during the final battle, and One Last Adventure director Martina Radwan believes that was the right call.
“The beauty of the spectacle is that they always come back to the character,” Radwan tells Variety. “And really, in the writers’ room, I think that becomes really clear. Matt and Ross are really good at that. Yes, the MAC-Z took, like, six weeks. But at the end of the day, it is about the characters.
“Not wanting to give Mike a gun – that made sense to me, because once he has a gun, he’s not innocent anymore. He’s not that nerdy kid that plays D&D.”
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