Joe Keery Didn't Think He Was Going To Be On "Stranger Things" Past Season 1

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Joe Keery didn't have high hopes for his Stranger Things character in the beginning!

A closeup of Joe
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Looking back on the early days of the show, Joe says he thought his character Steve was merely going to be the "jerky boyfriend."

Joe's character Steve wears a sailor uniform while standing next to costars
©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

As filming began, he was only given a few scripts at a time, so he never really knew what was coming next for Steve.

Steve sits in a car and looks out the window looking concerned
©Netflix / Courtesy Everett Collection

Each time the Duffer brothers presented him with more material, he was genuinely surprised.

A closeup of Joe
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"I read one, maybe, episode of the show, two episodes. And it was kind of like — we read three episodes — and then they had two more," Joe said on The Tonight Show.

A closeup of Joe
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He added that the team was really "building it out" as they were going along, and things were often going "day to day."

A closeup of Joe
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Obviously, things worked out for Steve as four seasons in, he's still an important part of the cast — and a fan favorite.

A closeup of Joe
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"It feels like such a small thing when you're doing it down there, shooting it and working, and then so many people have seen it. It's crazy," Joe shared.

A closeup of Joe
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Listen to all that Joe had to say below.