Shawn Levy Warns ‘Stranger Things 3’ Is Not “The Summer of Fun”
Finn Wolfhard may have hinted that season 3 of Stranger Things would be the “summer of love” but producer Shawn Levy is here to remind fans that it won’t be the “summer of fun.” So far the only footage that’s been released for the critically acclaimed series was an upbeat and nostalgia triggering “commercial” for Hawkins’ new shopping mall. It featured a cameo of Steve Harrington (Joe Keery) working at an ice cream store in the food court alongside Stranger Things newcomer Maya Hawke.
While fans probably weren’t expecting season three to be all shopping, sundaes, and summer romance, Levy made sure hammer it home while speaking with The Playlist recently. The season is going to be more ambitious and cinematic than ever, but don’t let the lighter tone of that commercial fool you- it’s also getting much darker.
[row]”That would be part of the store, but not at all representative of the season. There’s no question that, as you saw in that infomercial, Starcourt Mall is a part of season 3 – as is summertime. So, season 3 has a really healthy dose of poppy, bright levity and cultural fun, but I can only promise you that season 3 eventually goes places that are darker and unquestionably more action-packed than we’ve ever gone before.”[/row]
In short:
[row]”It would be a mistake for anyone to think that season 3 is the summer of fun and lightness because it’s a whole lot more than that,” he so lovingly added.[/row]
Me:
Levy will be directing two episodes in season 3, a tradition he has held since the premiere season, and it turns out there’s a superstitious reason for that.
[row]”I think it’s evidence of the profound superstition that the Duffers and I share. You know, in season one I did the third and fourth episode because I needed to send the Brothers into hibernation to write the second half of the season. Once that worked out pretty well, we didn’t dare jinx it in season two. And when that worked out really well, we sure as hell aren’t going to mess with it in season three.”[/row]
Naturally, all the juicy details surrounding season three have been kept tightly under wraps, but we do know that the season will be dropping sometime next summer and will feature a swashbuckling Jim Hopper. In addition to Hawke’s casting, Stranger Things 3 also welcomes Princess Bride star Cary Elwes and Starship Troopers star, Jake Busey. They join an ensemble cast of Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Millie Bobby Brown, Fin Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, Noah Schnapp, and Joe Keery.
Having studied Media & Writing at James Madison University, I always knew that I wanted to do some type of creative writing, but being able to write about zombies, Starks, and superheroes on a daily basis for Fan Fest is my actual dream. While I probably shouldn’t be as proud as I am to be so similar to Nick Miller, I do hope to one day write my own “Pepperwood Chronicles’.
