At a Glance
- A fleeting documentary clip sparked fan claims that the Duffer brothers used ChatGPT while writing Stranger Things season 5
- Director Martina Radwan says no one has verified the tab was actually ChatGPT
- Radwan insists she never saw unethical AI use in the writers’ room
- Why it matters: The rumor questions the authenticity of one of Netflix’s biggest shows
A single screenshot in the new behind-the-scenes film One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 has ignited online chatter that creators Matt and Ross Duffer relied on ChatGPT to craft the series finale. Documentary director Martina Radwan is now pushing back against the speculation.
The Clip That Fueled Speculation
During a brief workstation shot, viewers spotted what looked like a ChatGPT browser tab on one of the Duffers’ laptops. Social media quickly filled with screenshots and theories that generative AI had secretly influenced the final scripts.
Radwan questioned the certainty of those claims. “I mean, are we even sure they had ChatGPT open?” she told The Hollywood Reporter. “There’s a lot of chatter where [social media users] are like, ‘We don’t really know, but we’re assuming.'”
She compared the situation to everyday multitasking. “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.”
Inside the Writers’ Room
Radwan spent a year embedded with the production and says she never witnessed improper AI use. When asked directly whether she saw “an unethical use of generative-AI in the writers room,” she answered, “No, of course not.”
Instead, she describes the room as a place of “creative exchange” and “story development,” not constant typing. “People think ‘writers’ room’ means people are sitting there writing. No, it’s a creative exchange.”
She calls the experience a privilege, adding, “Being able to get close and watching them bring this beloved show to life in real time, was pure joy.”
Fan Backlash
Since the documentary debuted on January 12, the Duffers have faced criticism online. Radwan finds the reaction disheartening. “What I find heartbreaking is everybody loves the show, and suddenly we need to pick it apart.”
The brothers themselves promoted the documentary as a return to classic behind-the-scenes storytelling. In a joint statement they recalled watching The Lord of the Rings production diaries as kids in Durham, North Carolina, and wanting to give Stranger Things fans the same inside look.
“With the decline of physical media, that kind of behind-the-scenes storytelling has largely disappeared. We wanted to bring it back,” the Duffers said.
Key Takeaways
- No verified evidence shows ChatGPT wrote any part of the final season
- Radwan labels the AI claims unproven internet speculation
- The director emphasizes she saw only traditional creative collaboration
- One Last Adventure and all five seasons of Stranger Things are currently streaming on Netflix
