Stranger Things Creator Matt Duffer Urges Hollywood to Back Original Voices and Take More Risks

Matt Duffer, co-creator of Stranger Things, urged entertainment executives to take more creative risks while accepting a career honor at the Gotham TV Awards in New York.

Speaking alongside his brother Ross Duffer, Matt said audiences—especially younger viewers—are showing strong interest in original and personal stories rather than projects shaped heavily by data and algorithms. He pointed to the recent success of Backrooms and Obsession, both of which originated from YouTube creators, as evidence that fresh voices can attract large audiences.

Duffer called on industry leaders to support new creators and give them more freedom. “Let’s choose risk over fear,” he said, arguing that bold storytelling can be both creatively rewarding and profitable.

The brothers also reflected on the early days of Stranger Things, saying Netflix took a major chance on them despite their lack of television directing and showrunning experience. Ross Duffer noted that few studios were interested in their unusual script, but Netflix executives trusted them and allowed them to develop the series without interfering.

The Duffers received a Visionary Award at the Gotham TV Awards, where several other television stars and productions were also honored.