Joe Keery, Stranger Things, and the Real-Life Conspiracy That Came Full Circle
Lately, a lot of attention has been circling around Joe Keery, and not just because Stranger Things is heading toward its final chapter. What’s really got fans talking is how the show has finally leaned into one of the biggest real-world conspiracy theories it has been flirting with since the very beginning: the Philadelphia Experiment. And in many ways, it feels like a full-circle moment, both for the series and for Keery, who plays Steve Harrington, one of the show’s most beloved characters.
In the fifth and final season, a brief but chilling visual shows soldiers seemingly fused into walls and floors inside the Upside Down version of Hawkins Lab. That image wasn’t chosen randomly. It closely mirrors the infamous legend of the Philadelphia Experiment, a story that claims a U.S. Navy ship vanished in 1943 and reappeared with crew members horrifyingly merged into the ship itself. While the experiment has long been debunked, it has survived for decades as a cornerstone of conspiracy culture, and Stranger Things has now openly nodded to it.
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This reference is especially meaningful because the show was originally titled Montauk. Before Hawkins, Indiana ever existed, the Duffer Brothers wanted to set their story in Montauk, New York, a place tied to rumors of secret government experiments involving mind control, time travel, and psychic abilities. Those ideas eventually evolved into the Hawkins Lab storyline, and now, years later, the Philadelphia Experiment has been quietly brought into the picture, almost as a final wink to longtime fans.
Joe Keery’s character, Steve Harrington, may not be directly explaining these conspiracies on screen, but his presence grounds the story emotionally as the series dives deeper into its darkest roots. Over the years, Steve has evolved from a stereotypical high school bully into a protective, loyal figure, and that growth mirrors how the show itself has matured into something more layered and unsettling.
Outside of Stranger Things, Keery has also been making headlines for his music career under the name Djo. Many fans are only now realizing that the voice behind viral tracks like “End of Beginning” belongs to the same actor swinging a bat in Hawkins. His music success has added another layer to his public image, making this moment feel even bigger as the show prepares to say goodbye.
As Stranger Things closes out its story, the Philadelphia Experiment reference feels less like a random Easter egg and more like a reminder of what the series has always been about: blending nostalgia, fear, and real-world myths into one unforgettable cultural phenomenon. And at the center of it all stands Joe Keery, riding the wave of a legacy that’s about to be sealed in pop culture history.
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