‘Stranger Things’ Season 2 Cast, Updates: Actors Overwhelmed by Newfound Fame; Executive Producer Teases “Bigger, Badder” Follow-Up

‘Stranger Things’ actors admit that they are overwhelmed by their newfound fame. Meanwhile, executive producer Dan Cohen teased that the second season will be “bigger and badder” compared to the first.

According to USA Today, the kid actors of the highly popular supernatural-horror and science-fiction web television series created by the Duffer Brothers expressed their surprise at their sudden fame.

Natalia Dyer, who plays Nancy in the series, admitted that she realized her rise to popularity was real when there was a Buzzfeed quiz created about their characters. Gaten Matarazzo, who plays fan-favorite Dustin, said, "It was only a couple days ago, when I got verified on Instagram. That’s when I realized, 'Whoa, if half a million people are following me, this is a big deal.'”

Dyer and Matarazzo join a cast of relative newcomers including Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Shannon Purser as Barb Holland, and Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair. Winona Ryder, one of the most recognized names on the cast, stars as Joyce Byer in her first television role.

Executive producer Shawn Levy said of the child cast, “They were delightfully mischievous and giggly — sometimes distractingly so — but none of us cared because they were forming bonds and acting like real kids… We didn’t just need talented kids, we needed authentic kids. Those are extra hard to find."

Meanwhile, co-executive producer Dan Cohen talked about what to expect for the newly renewed series on Netflix. According to Yahoo! TV, Cohen remained vague on specific details but teased a “darker” new season.

Cohen said, “We’ll be doing more than just a rehash of Season 1. We’re coming back with a few new characters, expanding storylines and mythologies, so it’ll feel like the stakes are raised and more is going on and really delivering on the promise and pushing for more.”

He continued, “We want a sequel that feels like it’s bigger and badder and darker while answering more of the questions and getting deeper into what’s going on. [The Duffer Brothers] want it to be that great sequel that is satisfying and yet expands the world.”

As with staying true to several references and inspirations from 1980s pop culture, Cohen concluded, “You’re still going to feel the Spielberg, Carpenter, Stephen King references given that so many of these characters they inspired are still in the story.”

‘Stranger Things’ is a widely popular web television series airing on Netflix. It was created by Matt and Ross Duffer and premiered on July 2016 to positive reviews from critics. Season 2 is set to premiere in 2017.