The hit Netflix series Stranger Things has started a new tradition of #StrangerThursdays, which kicked off last week with two new Stranger Things Season 2 posters that pay homage to two classic films from the 1980s, A Nightmare on Elm Street and Stand By Me. That tradition continued with a new poster that honors a 1980s classic that celebrates its 30th Anniversary this year, the 1987 sci-fi action film The Running Man. Instead of Arnold Schwarzenegger featured on the poster, this tribute poster features none other than Sheriff Jim Hopper (David Harbour), in roughly the same design that was used in The Running Man poster.
This one-sheet debuted on Stranger Things Twitter, which features a large image of Sheriff Hopper in the foreground, along with a smaller image of Hopper and an image of Eleven from the first season, with the same design as the original Running Man poster from 30 years ago. The text on the poster is even quite similar, reading, "The Upside Down is a deadly world lurking underneath Hawkins. But... Hopper is on the case." The original Running Man poster read, "It's the year 2019. 'The Running Man' is a deadly game no one has survived. But... Schwarzenegger has yet to play."
With just over two months left until Stranger Things Season 2 arrives on the Netflix streaming service, it's possible that every #StrangerThursday will unveil a new poster inspired by a hit 1980s movie. Surprisingly, they haven't used Ghostbusters yet, but perhaps they're saving that poster until we get closer to the October 27 premiere. One of the first photos we saw from Stranger Things Season 2 showed this group of young friends, Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard), Dustin Henderson (Gaten Matarazzo), Lucas Sinclair (Caleb McLaughlin) and Will Byers (Noah Schnapp), all dressed up as Ghostbusters for Halloween, which is fitting since the story is set in the year 1984, when the movie was actually released.
Stranger Things Season 2 also brings back stars Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Cara Buono as Karen Wheeler, Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers and Joe Keery as Steve Harrington. New characters who will be introduced this season include Dacre Montgomery as Billy and Sadie Sink as Max, two step-siblings who move to Hawkins this season. There is said to be a love triangle that will develop between Max, Lucas and Dustin this season. Sean Astin also comes aboard as Bob Newby, who is now dating Joyce and is the manager of the local Radio Shack, with Paul Reiser coming aboard as Dr. Owens, a high-ranking member within the Department of Energy on a 'clean-up' assignment, tasked with containing the events of last season.
The new season will show how the citizens of Hawkins, Indiana are still reeling from the horrors of the Demogorgon and the secrets of Hawkins Lab. Will Byers has been rescued from the Upside Down but a bigger, sinister entity still threatens those who survived. Stranger Things was one of the breakout hit shows of last year, with huge expectations for Season 2, although the trailer from Comic-Con was widely praised, and the hype for this new season is already through the roof. Take a look at the latest 1980s-inspired poster for Stranger Things Season 2, as we get ready for the new season on October 27.
