- - “Stranger Things” Documentary Director Slams Fan Theories Over ChatGPT, Says It's 'Heartbreaking' to See Fans ‘Pick Apart’ the Show

Julia MooreJanuary 14, 2026 at 10:41 PM

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Niko Tavernise/Netflix

From left: Ross Duffer and Jamie Campbell Bower behind the scenes of 'Stranger Things' -

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 director Martina Radwan has spoken out amid fan speculation that ChatGPT was used to write the final scripts of the Netflix show

In the documentary, which chronicled the year-long process of filming the season, fans thought they saw a tab open to the AI website on one of the Duffers' computers

"Nobody has actually proved that it was open," Radwan said amid the speculation

A clip shown in the Stranger Things documentary has fueled speculation among fans that the Duffer brothers used ChatGPT when writing the final scripts. Now, One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, director Martina Radwan has weighed in and is shutting down the theories.

"I mean, are we even sure they had ChatGPT open?" Radwan told The Hollywood Reporter when asked about the brief clip where some fans think a ChatGPT tab was open on one of the Duffer's laptops while they drafted the final season scripts.

"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 director said.

Niko Tavernise/Netflix

From left: Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer behind the scenes of 'Stranger Things'

"Nobody has actually proved that it was open," Radwan said. "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."

Of the criticisms Matt and Ross Duffer — who created, co-wrote and co-directed the series — have faced since the documentary came out, Radwan said, "What I find heartbreaking is everybody loves the show, and suddenly we need to pick it apart."

She also confirmed point-blank to the outlet that she didn't ever see "an unethical use of generative-AI in the writers room?" She explained, "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."

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Niko Tavernise/Netflix

From left: Millie Bobby Brown and Shawn Levy behind the scenes of 'Stranger Things'

"I think being in the writers' room is such a privilege and such a gift to be able to witness that," she added.

The documentary, which dropped Jan. 12 on Netflix, was intended to be for fans of the show and anyone "curious how a major Hollywood production comes to life," the Duffers said in a statement.

“Growing up in Durham, North Carolina, we dreamed of becoming filmmakers—but Hollywood felt impossibly far away. Everything changed when we watched the behind-the-scenes documentaries for The Lord of the Rings — on-the-ground films that showed the real nuts and bolts of how a massive production actually gets made," the brothers continued.

They added, "With the decline of physical media, that kind of behind-the-scenes storytelling has largely disappeared. We wanted to bring it back. One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things Season 5 — beautifully captured and directed by Martina Radwan — is our attempt to do just that."

Radwan said it was a "true privilege — and an absolute thrill" to spend a year on the show's set to make the documentary. "Being able to get close and watching them bring this beloved show to life in real time, was pure joy," she said in a statement.

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 and all five seasons of Stranger Things are now streaming on Netflix.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”