The Duffer Brothers are being sued by Charlie Kessler, who produced a short film back in 2012 called Montauk. Charlie claims that he met with the Duffers in 2014 where he pitched them a series based on the short film. He says he never heard back, but was shocked when Stranger Things debuted in 2016, using his script, idea and story.
But, TMZ.com has now obtained emails showing that the Duffer Brothers were developing a Montauk series as far back as November, 2010, which is three and a half years before Kessler claims he pitched the show to them.
In two emails in November, 2010, the brothers set out their vision — a “real,” “paranormal” “gritty eighties” show. The Montauk experiments were also mentioned.
A Google document dated October 4, 2013, would set the premise for Stranger Things, where the scene in which Will gets lost in the woods is explained.
Two emails from 2014 — dated February 27 and April 4 — both written before the alleged meeting between the Duffer brothers and Kessler, lay out the vision for the show. It reads, “...set in 1980s Long Island” with “a vintage Stephen King feel.”
