‘Outer Banks’: Chase Stokes and his disastrous casting for ‘Stranger Things’

‘Outer Banks’ actor Chase Stokes could have headlined a different Netflix series, one that would have seen him trade in his surfboard for something more supernatural. And no, we’re not just talking about the age differences of the ‘Outer Banks’ cast, but the Upside Down World, Vecna ​​and stuff.

The third season of ‘Outer Banks’ has only recently hit the platform of the big red N, but the casting might have been different if Stokes had remembered the lines of dialogue from his audition for ‘Stranger Things’. Stokes revealed that he auditioned for the role of Steve Harrington, ultimately played by Joe Keery, but still managed to land another unique role.

Talking with Access Hollywood, Stokes said that he regretted his work in the casting process for the series after forgetting all his lines of dialogue. But he did thank the Duffer Brothers, the show’s creators, directors and executive producers, for casting him on the series for an episode: he played Reed in season one episode six.

Stokes told the aforementioned outlet:

In fact, I read for the role of Steve Harrington, and I forgot all the lines and absolutely botched the audition. I drove eight hours from Atlanta back to Orlando, regretting every moment of it.

He added about the one who was ultimately cast, perhaps (among other things) because he didn’t forget his catchphrases: “Joe Keery is an absolute legend and he’s very good as Steve Harrington. I’m very proud of him.”

Stokes appeared in ‘Stranger Things’ in 2016, but it wasn’t until 2020 that he managed to secure the role of John B Routledge in ‘Outer Banks’.

The first three seasons of ‘Outer Banks’ and the first four seasons of ‘Stranger Things’ are on Netflix.