Filming is already underway on the sophomore season of Netflix sensation "Stranger Things," and the '80s-set series is doubling down on its homages to pop culture from that decade with some high-profile new additions to the cast.

Entertainment Weekly reports that the show has landed Sean Astin and Paul Reiser to play two new characters with connections to the core gang, and both actors have roles in their past that wink to some of the streaming series's main influences. "Lord of the Rings" star Astin played the lead in 1985's beloved kids adventure flick "The Goonies" (to which "Stranger Things" has been compared), while "Mad About You" star Reiser had a key role as a villain in "Aliens," a sequel that "Stranger Things" creators Ross and Matt Duffer previously told EW was part of their inspiration for Season 2.

In addition to Astin and Reiser, Danish actress Linnea Berthelsen has also joined the ensemble. Here's a breakdown of the three new characters, according to Netflix and EW:

  • Astin will play Bob Newby, "a kindhearted former nerd who went to high school with Joyce (Winona Ryder) and Hopper (David Harbour) and now manages the local Hawkins RadioShack."
  • Reiser will play Dr. Owens, "a high-ranking member within the Department of Energy on a 'clean-up' assignment, tasked with containing the events of last year."
  • Berthelsen will play Roman, "an emotionally damaged, magnetic young woman who suffered a great loss as a child. Although she does not live in Hawkins, she is mysteriously connected to the supernatural events at the lab..."

Season two of "Stranger Things" is in production now. It's expect to debut on Netflix sometime in 2017

[via: Entertainment Weekly]

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