Stranger Things creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, are headed to trail after they allegedly stole the idea for their hit Netflix series from Charlie Kessler. Kessler alleges that he pitched the idea for the series back in 2014 at the Tribeca Film Festival. Kessler’s potential series was called The Montauk Project, a series set in a New York town that is home to “various urban legends, and paranormal and conspiracy theories.” In response, the Duffer duo argued that they came up with the idea for their series independently and that the idea Kessler presented was not unique.
The two sides met in court on Wednesday as the Duffer duo hoped to be granted a summary judgment that would avoid a trial. However, Los Angeles Superior Judge Michael Stern felt differently. Stern stated, “Without such admissible evidence, we are left with an issue of determining credibility that must be decided by the trier of fact.” Stern added, “Moreover, whether or not there is a similarity between the concepts to be discerned by comparing them is a subissue of independent creation that must be decided by the trier of fact.”
As a result, the case almost certainly will head to trial in early May. This could not come at a worse time as Netflix plans to release the latest season of Stranger Things later this summer.
