Stranger Things Documentary Director Sets the Record Straight on Duffer Brothers’ ChatGPT Script Controversy

So here we go: Stranger Things season 5 wrapped, fans weren’t totally thrilled, and now some eagle-eyed viewers have turned their focus on Netflix’s behind-the-scenes documentary about the show. Not to analyze the Demogorgon or the Upside Down, but to inspect what tabs the Duffer brothers keep open while they write. Yes, seriously. This is where we’re at in 2024.

The doc in question, One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5, includes a scene where Matt and Ross Duffer are busy hacking away at the season 5 script in a Google Doc. All fine, except the real drama is in their browser background—fans spotted some interesting tabs lurking up there. If you freeze-frame at just the right moment (people actually did this), you’ll see a Reddit tab, but what’s been blowing up online is what looks like a ChatGPT tab.

In classic internet form, Twitter (okay, X) has opinions. Here’s a taste:

'Duffer Brothers really used ChatGPT for this script?'

That question is everywhere right now, with screenshots and speculation galore. But the key detail—did the Duffer brothers actually use ChatGPT to write Stranger Things?—remains 100% unconfirmed. The brothers themselves are keeping quiet, no comment either way.

Did AI Actually Write Hawkins’ Last Stand?

Since the Duffers haven’t said a word about it, the only other person close to the action is Martina Radwan, who directed the doc. She spoke to The Hollywood Reporter and, honestly, her reaction was basically: 'Are we even sure it was ChatGPT? Nobody’s proven it… but honestly, who doesn’t have it open for random research these days?'

That’s a fair point. ChatGPT’s everywhere now—it hit over 800 million weekly users by the end of 2025, which, yes, is mind-blowing. But Radwan was clear: she never saw anyone using generative AI to actually write the show. When pressed, she said:

'How can you possibly write a storyline with 19 characters and use ChatGPT? I don’t even understand… No, of course not. I witnessed creative exchanges. I witnessed conversation.'

So, bottom line: fans noticed what looks like a ChatGPT tab open during a Stranger Things writing session—that’s it. No one’s got proof, and the only person talking has made it clear she saw a bunch of real, old-fashioned brainstorming, not lines of AI-generated dialogue.

What’s Actually in One Last Adventure

• Yes, there’s a behind-the-scenes look at the writing process
• Yes, there are tabs open—Reddit, ChatGPT, whatever else
• No, there’s no evidence the script was written by ChatGPT
• Director says: 'Creative conversations, not ChatGPT story prompts'
• The Duffer brothers haven’t said anything about it one way or another

Honestly, it’s not all that surprising to see writers keeping ChatGPT handy for quick research, idea sparks, or—let’s be real—looking up which ‘80s movies already killed off that one trope. Until someone turns up a scene written entirely in AI gibberish, though, your Hawkins nostalgia is probably safe.

One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 is streaming on Netflix now, if you want to run your own tab-spotting investigation. And if you’re still processing that season 5 finale, you’re definitely not alone.