The creators of Stranger Things have been left fuming after the biggest plot points of the upcoming new season were ruined by a board game.
The Netflix series has been a hit since it first aired in 2016 – and fans have been hungrily waiting for season four since the third series aired back in 2019.
As well as being a nostalgic smash hit, Stranger Things has been a merchandising triumph – with products galore including clothing, accessories, toys, board games and more.
But a special version of Monopoly has rumbled the plot of the hotly anticipated fourth season – which is still a week away from dropping on the streaming service.
The Hollywood Reporter explained: “Images have leaked online from an official Monopoly board game tie-in pegged to the long-awaited new season of the retro sci-fi hit.
“The images from the game’s cards — which first started circulating last month — spoil major plot points in the new episodes.
“ Netflix wasn’t happy about the mishap. But they weren’t nearly as displeased as the show’s creators, the Duffer brothers, who sources say weren’t consulted about the game.”
The report added: “Matt and Ross Duffer have long valued maintaining story secrecy and were said to have had a ‘total meltdown’ about the mishap.”
Stranger Things ultimately tells the story of a young girl named Eleven who possesses telekinetic powers who is seemingly the only force possible to prevent monsters entering the world from another dimension.
Season three ended with the character facing down against a giant monster in a shopping mall – while her adoptive father Jim Hopper, played by David Harbour, seemingly perished amid the battle.
David himself could be a future plot leak risk as he has claimed he knows how the entire series will end when the fifth and final season airs at a future date.
He told Variety that he “harassed” the show writers until they told him the truth.
He said: “I think it varies from person to person, from character to character, and I’m such a harassment specialist that I think I’ve gotten it out of them.
“It’s been back and forth about like, ‘What happens to Hopper? Is he a character that’s able to survive Hawkins or does he die?'
“I know what happens and it’s quite moving, and quite beautiful.”
And while Stranger Things will end with the fifth season, it has been hinted that a sequel or spinoff series may be filmed following the conclusion of the main story.
Season four will consist of nine episodes – which will be released via Netflix in two lopsided parts.
Volume 1 of the fourth season will be unleashed on Friday 27 May and will consist of seven episodes, while the final two episodes of the season will be released via volume 2 on Friday 1 July.
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