'I responded to...': Why 'Shawshank Redemption' came out of retirement to direct 'Stranger Things'

How 'Stranger Things' lured 'Shawshank Redemption' director out of retirement
29 Sep 2024

Frank Darabont, the acclaimed director behind Hollywood classics like The Shawshank Redemption and The Walking Dead, is making a comeback!

He's directing two episodes of the final season of Netflix's Stranger Things.

Though he hasn't directed since 2013's Mob City, he'll be at the helm of the third and fifth episodes of the upcoming season.

In a recent interview with The Daily Beast, he shared what made him want to jump back into directing.

'Stranger Things' has so much heart: Darabont
Director's inspiration

Darabont revealed that his fondness for Stranger Things was a significant factor in his decision to return.

He said, "What really dragged me out of retirement was that my wife and I really love this show."

He added, "Our content now is so filled with horrible people doing horrible things for greedy reasons, but Stranger Things has so much heart. That positivity is something I really responded to."

Darabont's future in the industry remains uncertain
Career uncertainty

Despite his return, Darabont's future in the industry remains uncertain.

When asked about his potential career path post-Stranger Things, he responded, "Who knows? I haven't missed the business but I have missed being on set with creative people... It may well be one and done, but we've still got time."

This statement suggests that while he enjoys the creative process of directing, he is not yet committed to a long-term return.

'Stranger Things' final season: A cinematic approach
Cinematic finale

The final season of Stranger Things is going to be a little different, with each episode feeling like its own mini-movie.

Maya Hawke, who plays Robin Buckley, confirmed this saying, "It takes a long time to write each season and a long time to shoot them. We're making basically 8 movies."

The show stars Millie Bobby Brown, Winona Ryder, David Harbour, and Finn Wolfhard, among others.