The Duffer Brothers' wildly successful Netflix series Stranger Things continues to maintain its grip on the zeitgeist, thanks in no small part to the way the show pays homage to classic pop culture of the past. A new lawsuit alleges the series is more than a tribute, however, as a filmmaker claims the Duffers stole his idea.
As TMZ reports, a filmmaker named Charlie Kessler is claiming that the show was his idea. He says it was based on his short film Montauk, which won an award at the Hamptons International Film Festival in 2012.
According to the lawsuit, Kessler says he pitched Montauk to the Duffer Brothers in 2012 as a television series, but their talks stalled.
Kessler now says that Stranger Things was sold as The Montauk Project, and uses his script, idea, story and film as its source material. He's suing for money and for the destruction of all materials that were allegedly ripped off from his concept.
You can watch Kessler's short film Montauk below.
As TMZ reports, a filmmaker named Charlie Kessler is claiming that the show was his idea. He says it was based on his short film Montauk, which won an award at the Hamptons International Film Festival in 2012.
According to the lawsuit, Kessler says he pitched Montauk to the Duffer Brothers in 2012 as a television series, but their talks stalled.
Kessler now says that Stranger Things was sold as The Montauk Project, and uses his script, idea, story and film as its source material. He's suing for money and for the destruction of all materials that were allegedly ripped off from his concept.
You can watch Kessler's short film Montauk below.
