Stranger Things VFX Team Tested 100 Designs for Vecna
A new Stranger Things documentary reveals the VFX crew tried nearly 100 different versions of Vecna before landing on his final look, drawing inspiration from horror classics and Dungeons & Dragons.
The latest Stranger Things documentary has landed, giving fans a behind-the-scenes look at just how much work went into creating Vecna’s unsettling appearance. VFX Art Director Michael Maher Jr. shared that the team experimented with around a hundred different designs for the character, played by Jamie Campbell Bower. Some of these early concepts took cues from classic horror, including a version that was clearly inspired by the Cenobite known as Chatterer, famous for communicating only through the clicking of his teeth. Another idea had Vecna draped in a cloak, which Maher admitted was a bit too on the nose, considering the character’s role as a harbinger of doom.
There was even a design that made Vecna resemble the Mind Flayer, complete with spider-like limbs, which the team ultimately decided was a step too far. Maher explained,
‘Finally, we used some vines as a diseased aspect, and it clicked.’
The final version, with its twisted, vine-covered look, struck the right balance between horror and the supernatural, making Vecna a memorable addition to the show’s roster of villains.
Drawing from Dungeons & Dragons and Horror Icons
It’s interesting to note that the Vecna seen in Stranger Things isn’t a far cry from his Dungeons & Dragons origins. In the tabletop game, Vecna is often depicted as skeletal, with a prominent rib cage, and sometimes features glowing red eyes or a distinctive mask. The creative team clearly drew on these elements, blending them with their own ideas to craft a version that would work on screen.
The Mind Flayer, another major antagonist from the series, also has roots in D&D, where it’s portrayed as more cephalopod-like—imagine a cross between Dracula and a squid. The VFX crew played with these influences, but ultimately found their own path for Vecna’s look, ensuring he stood out from the other monsters haunting Hawkins.
Behind the Scenes of Stranger Things 5
For those keen to see how it all came together, the documentary ‘One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5’ is now streaming. It offers a rare glimpse into the creative process, showing just how much trial and error goes into bringing a character like Vecna to life. And for anyone wondering, there’s no secret ninth episode or anything called Conformity Gate—just a deep dive into the making of one of TV’s most talked-about villains.