Stranger Things faces a new controversy in January 2026, but this time the focus is not on Hawkins. Director Martina Radwan, responsible for the documentary “One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5,” came to the defense of the Duffer brothers after fans speculated, based on screenshots, that the artificial intelligence of ChatGPT had been used to write the scripts for the highly anticipated final season of the Netflix series. In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Radwan questioned the evidence presented by the fans and categorically stated she did not witness any unethical use of generative AI during her immersion in the writers’ room.
The controversy gained traction on social media when viewers analyzed a frame from the documentary, available on Netflix, which showed the series creators working on a browser with several tabs open. Due to a similar icon, many assumed one of them was the ChatGPT interface. However, Martina Radwan refuted this interpretation directly. “First, no one proved the tab was actually open,” she emphasized, comparing the situation to having an iPhone next to the computer while writing. For the director, the discussion is unfounded and obscures the genuine creative process she witnessed, which involved intense debate and story development among the writers.
Radwan was emphatic in describing the dynamics of the writers’ room, which she describes as a “privilege” to witness. “I saw creative exchanges. I saw conversations. People think ‘writers’ room’ means people sitting down writing. No, it’s a creative exchange. It’s story development,” she explained. She further pondered the logic behind the accusation, questioning how it would be possible to use a tool like ChatGPT to orchestrate a plot with 19 main characters, a narrative complexity characteristic of the series. The director also expressed sadness at seeing such a beloved show being “dissected” in this way, especially when the documentary was meant to be a celebration of the production’s long and successful journey.
The Context Behind the Controversy
This is not the first time the production of the fifth and final season of Stranger Things has generated rumors and distrust among the fanbase. The ChatGPT controversy arises at a time when the series, like many TV finales in recent years, seems more enveloped in criticism than in a celebratory mood. Previously, fans were impacted by “Conformity Gate,” a theory that speculated about a secret post-finale episode to be released on January 7, 2026 – a date that passed without any news, only with what was considered a passive-aggressive update on Netflix’s social media.
Furthermore, the documentary “One Last Adventure” also revealed that the script for the final episode was not yet complete during filming, a fact that, combined with the alleged ChatGPT discovery, fueled a feeling of skepticism in part of the audience. Martina Radwan, however, insists that the use of digital tools for quick research is a common practice and does not replace the human creative core. The discussion reflects a broader debate in the entertainment industry in 2026, where the line between using AI as an assistant and its application in the core creation of content remains tense and under constant scrutiny.
