Stranger Things 3 is taking its cues from one of the most terrifying horror movies ever made, so expect it to have the "grossest" episodes yet.

Netflix is making fans wait an extra year for the horror show to return all so producers The Duffer Brothers can pump even more jump scares into the mix, but the siblings are at least revealing some secrets in new book Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down.

In the book, the Duffers reveal that season 3 is partially inspired by The Thing – the iconic science fiction story and series of movies about a parasitic alien that consumes a group of humans one-by-one.

Netflix

"While it's our most fun season, it also turns out to be our grossest season," Ross Duffer teases. "We're inspired by John Carpenter's The Thing. We're inspired by Cronenberg.

"We have a little bit of a George Romero vibe in there as well. There are horror movies and horror masters that we haven't really paid tribute to as much in previous seasons that we are definitely going to get into this season."

Ross also tips that a central plot point in the new season will revolve around the Hawkins mall, which fans have actually already seen in a teaser released earlier in the year.

"Aesthetically it's going to feel very different," Ross promised. "Everyone is going to this new mall, seeing movies, and, of course, the Hawkins pool is open for business. I think there'll be a sense of fun and joy."

Filming is well underway, and Digital Spy has compiled an exhaustive list on which cast members will definitely be back for Stranger Things 3 on Netflix in 2019. Click here to have a look.

Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down is available for purchase today (October 30) — click here to get your copy.

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