Stranger Things Doc Director Responds to AI Script Rumours
Speculation swirls as fans spot a possible ChatGPT tab in the Stranger Things season 5 documentary. The director weighs in, addressing concerns about AI involvement in the scriptwriting process.
After the much-anticipated finale of Stranger Things season 5 left some punters a bit underwhelmed, eagle-eyed fans have been poring over Netflix’s new behind-the-scenes doco, One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things season 5. Their close inspection turned up something curious—a glimpse of what looks like a ChatGPT tab open on the Duffer brothers’ computer while they were working on the script. Alongside a Reddit tab, the supposed ChatGPT window sparked a flurry of chatter online, with one fan posting on Twitter, “Duffer Brothers really used ChatGPT for this script?” and sharing a screenshot from the film.
The Duffer brothers themselves haven’t commented on the speculation. But Martina Radwan, who directed the documentary, has addressed the issue in a recent interview. She questioned the certainty of the claims, saying,
“I mean, are we even sure they had ChatGPT open? Nobody has actually proved that it was open... But to me it's like, doesn’t everybody have it open, to just do quick research?... That's like having your iPhone next to your computer while you're writing a story.”
Fans Question AI’s Role in the Writers’ Room
Radwan’s point about the ubiquity of AI tools rings true—heaps of people use ChatGPT for all sorts of quick look-ups these days. OpenAI’s own research found the chatbot had over 800 million weekly active users by late 2025. Still, what’s really got fans talking is the idea that the Duffer brothers might have leaned on AI to actually write the script for season 5, not just for a bit of research. So far, there’s no evidence to back up that claim.
Pressed further, Radwan seemed baffled by the suggestion that AI could handle the complexity of the show’s storylines. She said,
“How can you possibly write a storyline with 19 characters and use ChatGPT? I don't even understand.”
When asked directly if she’d seen any dodgy use of generative AI in the writers’ room, Radwan replied,
“No, of course not. I witnessed creative exchanges. I witnessed conversation.”
No Concrete Proof of AI Scriptwriting
At this stage, there’s nothing to suggest the Duffer brothers actually used ChatGPT to pen the script. The documentary simply shows them working away, with a bunch of tabs open—something most writers can relate to. The speculation seems to be running ahead of the facts, with no solid proof that AI played any part in crafting the final season’s story.
For those keen to see what all the fuss is about, One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 is streaming now on Netflix.