Locke & Key

Behind the Scenes of Locke & Key: How Netflix’s Fantasy Hit Brought the Comic to Life

Netflix’s Locke & Key (2020) carved out a niche in the streaming giant’s fantasy lineup, blending eerie mystery with family drama. Based on the acclaimed comic series by Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez, the show followed the Locke siblings as they uncovered magical keys—and dark secrets—in their ancestral home, Keyhouse. While the series earned praise for its faithful yet fresh adaptation, behind-the-scenes details reveal how the cast and creators navigated changes from the source material, on-set challenges, latestnetflix.com argues, and the pressures of bringing a beloved comic to life.

Nina Locke: A Character Reimagined

Darby Stanchfield, who played matriarch Nina Locke, revealed that her character underwent significant changes from the comics. In the original Locke & Key comics, Nina was a more passive figure, but the Netflix adaptation gave her a sharper edge—struggling with grief, addiction, and a fierce determination to protect her family. Stanchfield explained that these tweaks were intentional, making Nina feel more relatable and complex. "Despite her primary role in both the series and its source material, Nina underwent several significant changes on her way to Netflix," Stanchfield noted in an interview . The shift allowed the show to explore themes of trauma and resilience in ways the comics only hinted at.

Showrunner Carlton Cuse, who developed the series alongside Meredith Averill and Aron Eli Coleite, praised Stanchfield’s portrayal, calling her the "perfect fit" for the role. In a pre-release interview, Cuse highlighted how Stanchfield brought depth to Nina’s struggles, particularly her battle with alcoholism—a storyline that mirrored the family’s broader fight against supernatural forces .

On-Set Challenges: Filming the Creepiest Scenes

Locke & Key wasn’t just a visual spectacle—it was a logistical one. The show’s blend of practical effects and CGI required meticulous planning, especially for its most unsettling moments. In a The Hollywood Reporter interview, Stanchfield and Connor Jessup (who played Tyler Locke) revealed that one particular scene stood out as the most difficult to film: a sequence involving a shadowy, otherworldly entity . While the specifics of the scene weren’t detailed in the snippet, Jessup hinted that the combination of prosthetics, lighting, and the actors’ performances made it a grueling shoot.

The series’ reliance on Keyhouse as a central location also posed challenges. Though the exterior shots of the mansion were filmed at a real estate in Lunenburg, Nova Scotia, the interiors were largely built on soundstages, requiring seamless integration with CGI to bring the magical keys to life . The result was a visually cohesive world, but one that demanded precision from the cast and crew.

Family Dynamics: Coping with Loss On and Off Screen

At its core, Locke & Key was a story about grief. The Locke siblings—Tyler (Jessup), Kinsey (Emilia Jones), and Bode (Jackson Robert Scott)—were reeling from their father’s murder, and their mother, Nina, was barely holding it together. In an interview with Hollywood Life, Jessup and Stanchfield discussed how the cast leaned into the emotional weight of the story. "We talked a lot about how each character processes loss differently," Jessup said, noting that Tyler’s anger, Kinsey’s withdrawal, and Bode’s childlike curiosity all reflected real-world coping mechanisms .

Stanchfield added that the cast’s off-screen chemistry helped ground the performances. "We spent a lot of time together before filming, just getting to know each other," she revealed. "That made the family dynamic feel authentic, even when we were dealing with supernatural stuff" . The approach paid off, with critics praising the show’s balance of horror and heart.

The Road Ahead: Why the Series Ended After Three Seasons

Despite its dedicated fanbase, Locke & Key wrapped after three seasons. While Netflix never officially confirmed the reason for its cancellation, industry speculation pointed to a mix of budget constraints and shifting priorities at the streamer. The show’s production costs were reportedly high, given its reliance on visual effects and location shoots . Still, the series earned a reputation as one of Netflix’s most polished fantasy offerings, with MovieWeb calling it "perfect from the start" .

For fans of the comics, the adaptation remained a point of pride. The showrunners stayed true to the spirit of Joe Hill and Gabriel Rodríguez’s work while expanding on certain characters and storylines. Nina’s arc, in particular, became a standout, thanks to Stanchfield’s performance and the creative team’s willingness to reimagine her role .

**The Legacy of *Locke & Key***

Though Locke & Key is no longer in production, its impact lingers. The series introduced a new generation of viewers to the comics, with Locke & Key Omnibus 1—which compiles the first three story arcs—seeing renewed interest . For those who loved the show, it remains a rare example of a fantasy series that balanced scares, emotion, and family drama without losing its way.

As Stanchfield put it, "It was a story about healing, even when the world around the Lockes was falling apart" . And for a show that thrived on secrets, that might be the most important key of all.