Unraveling the Enigma: Winona Ryder's Casting in Stranger Things Revisited by an Amused Producer

Summary

Stranger Things star Winona Ryder's initial meeting with producer Shawn Levy showed her lack of familiarity with Netflix and streaming.

Due to Stranger Things' significant impact in popularizing streaming shows, it is understandable that Ryder lacks knowledge in this area. The show not only transformed Netflix's identity but also captivated audiences with its stunning visual effects, top-notch production, and wide appeal to viewers of different age groups.

Winona Ryder, star of Stranger Things, was unaware of the concepts of Netflix or streaming when she first met producer and director Shawn Levy. The sci-fi series is set in the 1980s and follows the residents of Hawkins, Indiana as they battle supernatural forces from an alternate dimension called the Upside Down. Ryder, famous for her roles in Beetlejuice and Heathers in the 1980s, portrays Joyce Byers, the mother of Will, whose disappearance sets the events of the entire series into motion. The show premiered in 2016 and continues to be incredibly popular, with the highly anticipated Stranger Things season 5 on its way. Levy recently shared the story of his initial meeting with Ryder for her Stranger Things audition on the Happy Sad Confused podcast hosted by Josh Horowitz.

The producer, with an amused smile on his face, reminisced about the actress who started the meeting by inquiring, "Could you enlighten me on Netflix? What exactly is streaming?" Feel free to read Levy's detailed recollection below or simply watch the corresponding section of the video above.

How Netflix's Stranger Things Popularized Streaming Shows

Winona initiated our inaugural meeting, where the Duffers and I gathered to partake in a delightful tea session. She began by posing thought-provoking questions: "What precisely is Netflix? How does streaming work? Is it akin to traditional television with distinct disparities?" This marked the inception of our journey. I have immense admiration for that extraordinary lady... Nonetheless, Winona required a certain degree of orientation to elucidate this emerging narrative medium termed Netflix and streaming.

At the time, Ryder might not have been aware of Netflix or streaming shows, considering that Stranger Things played a significant role in putting them on the map. Stranger Things made its debut in 2016, but Ryder had her initial meetings with the Duffer Brothers and Levy before it was announced that she had been cast in June 2015. During that period, Netflix was just starting to gain recognition for its original programming, with shows like House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black premiering two years earlier in 2013.

House of Cards and Orange Is the New Black were both successful shows, but with different genres. House of Cards was a gripping political thriller, while Orange Is the New Black was a captivating blend of drama and comedy set in a prison. Stranger Things, on the other hand, revolutionized Netflix originals by incorporating stunning visual effects and maintaining a high level of production value. The show's iconic 1980s aesthetic appealed not only to older viewers who experienced the era but also to younger audiences fascinated by that period, resulting in a significantly larger fan base compared to previous Netflix originals. In a remarkably short span of time, Stranger Things became a cultural sensation and propelled Netflix to global recognition.