As Stranger Things 5 brings the beloved series to a close, Netflix isn’t saying goodbye to Hawkins just yet. The streaming giant has confirmed not one but two Stranger Things spinoff projects currently in development, ensuring fans will have plenty more adventures in the supernatural universe created by Matt and Ross Duffer. With the series finale having aired on December 31, 2025, attention now turns to what comes next for this cultural phenomenon.
Two Stranger Things Spinoff Projects in Development
Netflix has officially greenlit two separate spinoff series set in the Stranger Things universe. The first, an animated series titled Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, is already deep in production with a planned 2026 premiere. The second remains shrouded in mystery but promises to be a live-action continuation of the franchise with an entirely fresh approach to storytelling within this supernatural world.
This dual-spinoff strategy demonstrates Netflix’s commitment to expanding the Stranger Things brand while allowing the main series to conclude its story on its own terms. Unlike many franchise expansions that feel forced or unnecessary, these spinoffs have been carefully developed by the Duffer Brothers to honor the original while charting new territory.
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 – The Animated Spinoff
Release Date and Format
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is scheduled to premiere on Netflix in 2026, though an exact release date has not yet been announced. The series will be an animated show produced by Flying Bark Productions, the acclaimed Australian animation studio known for their work on various high-profile projects. The show was first announced in April 2023 when Netflix greenlit it with a straight-to-series order, and the first look teaser was released in November 2025.
Setting and Timeline
As the title suggests, Tales from ’85 takes place during the winter of 1985, positioning it squarely between Season 2 and Season 3 of the main series. This strategic placement allows the spinoff to explore new adventures with familiar characters without contradicting established canon or interfering with the main storyline’s progression. The snowy 1985 setting promises a different visual aesthetic from what fans have typically seen in the main series.
According to Netflix’s official synopsis, the series will see the original characters fighting new monsters and unraveling a paranormal mystery that terrorizes Hawkins. The Upside Down’s influence once again seeps into the town, with familiar locations like Hawkins National Laboratory resurfacing alongside new supernatural threats including Upside Down pumpkin-zombies and vine-like monsters.
Cast and Characters
All the main characters from Stranger Things will appear in animated form in Tales from ’85. This includes Eleven (Jane Hopper), Mike Wheeler, Will Byers, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Max Mayfield, and even glimpses of Sheriff Jim Hopper. The series also introduces a brand new character named Nikki Baxter, described as taller and bigger than the core group, with distinctive pinkish hair that’s short on the sides. Nikki is characterized as a tinker who joins the Hawkins kids in their adventures.
However, fans should note that the original live-action actors will not be reprising their roles as voice actors. The voice cast was revealed in November 2025 and includes an entirely new ensemble bringing these beloved characters to life in animated form. Additional voice cast members include Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips in undisclosed roles.
Creative Vision
The Duffer Brothers conceived Tales from ’85 as a love letter to the Saturday-morning cartoons they grew up watching in the 1980s. Matt Duffer explained that they wanted to capture the feel of classic animated shows based on movies they loved, such as Beetlejuice and Ghostbusters. The goal was to bring that throwback spirit into a more modern format, similar to how the live-action series embraced the aesthetic of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King films from that era.
Showrunner Eric Robles, who previously created the Nickelodeon series Fanboy and Chum Chum, leads the creative team alongside the Duffer Brothers, Shawn Levy, and Dan Cohen as executive producers. The tone is described as more family-friendly and brighter in visuals compared to the live-action show, with Netflix positioning it as “entry-level Stranger Things” suitable for broader audiences including younger viewers who might find the main series too intense.
The Mysterious Live-Action Stranger Things Spinoff
What We Know So Far
While Tales from ’85 has received considerable publicity and marketing, the second Stranger Things spinoff remains deliberately enigmatic. First announced in 2022 following the release of Stranger Things Season 4, this live-action project has been described by the Duffer Brothers as something completely unexpected that will surprise everyone, including Netflix executives.
The most intriguing aspect of this spinoff is how carefully the Duffers have guarded its premise. In interviews, they’ve revealed that only one person correctly guessed the concept: Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler in the original series. The Duffers have praised Wolfhard’s intelligence and noted that they’ve essentially mind-melded with him over the years of working together.
What the Spinoff Won’t Be
The Duffer Brothers have been explicit about what fans should not expect from this live-action Stranger Things spinoff. Most importantly, it will not feature any of the main characters from the original series. Matt Duffer explained that while the spinoff relates to Stranger Things in some ways, it’s “a completely different story and a completely different location with completely different actors and characters.”
This represents a significant departure from typical franchise expansion strategies. Rather than following the Star Wars model of interconnected stories building upon each other, the spinoff will maintain the brand and style of storytelling that Stranger Things is known for while operating in its own space. The focus will remain on kids, adventures, and science fiction and fantasy elements rather than expanding into an increasingly convoluted mythology.
Ross Duffer emphasized that the spinoff and any future projects will “live in a bit of a different world.” The creators want to avoid the trap of franchise fatigue by ensuring each new project feels fresh and necessary rather than simply existing to capitalize on the Stranger Things name.
Finn Wolfhard’s Guess
Wolfhard’s correct guess about the spinoff has become one of the most tantalizing mysteries in the Stranger Things fandom. In a 2023 appearance on The Tonight Show, Wolfhard revealed that he figured it out by simply thinking about what would be a cool way to expand the Stranger Things world. This suggests the spinoff concept predates any Season 5 revelations, as Wolfhard wouldn’t have been aware of those plot points at the time of his guess.
In an interview with Variety, Wolfhard speculated that the spinoff might be structured as an anthology similar to David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, set in different places but tied together through the mythology of the Upside Down. He suggested it might not even mention Hawkins or reference the original characters at all. However, the Duffers later clarified to Deadline that this wasn’t actually Wolfhard’s original guess, and he may no longer remember what he initially said that proved correct.
Connection to the Stranger Things 5 Finale
Following the release of the Stranger Things 5 finale on December 31, 2025, the Duffer Brothers confirmed in interviews that the new spinoff would address a major question raised in the finale. During the final episodes, the origin of Vecna and Henry Creel’s powers was revealed through a mysterious rock contained in a briefcase. This rock, which bore the same fractured appearance as the Upside Down ground, entered Henry’s bloodstream and granted him his abilities while also seemingly containing the Mind Flayer.
The finale left several questions unanswered about this rock: Where did it come from? Who was the man holding the briefcase? What’s the larger significance of this object? Matt Duffer confirmed to Variety that these questions will form the foundation of the new spinoff series, which will explore a brand new town, new characters, new world, and new mythology.
This revelation provides the first concrete details about the spinoff’s direction and suggests it may function as something of a prequel or parallel story that expands the larger Stranger Things mythology while maintaining its independence from the main series.
Development Status and Timeline
The Duffers have been working on the live-action spinoff concept since around 2022, developing it alongside Stranger Things 5. Matt Duffer described the process as refreshing, noting that starting with new characters feels like working with a clean slate without any narrative knots to untangle. However, he also acknowledged that Netflix’s patience was beginning to wear thin as the main series concluded, with executives eager to move forward on the project.
While the Duffers will create the series and be heavily creatively involved, they will not serve as showrunners. This decision stems from their new four-year deal with Paramount, which will occupy much of their time with new filmmaking projects. Instead, they’ll help shepherd the spinoff along while other creative leaders handle day-to-day production.
As of early 2026, there’s no official timeline for when the live-action Stranger Things spinoff will enter production or premiere. Matt Duffer mentioned in a January 2026 interview that he and Ross planned to return to work on the new spinoff immediately, suggesting active development is underway. However, given the typical production timeline for premium television and the Duffers’ other commitments, it may be several years before the series reaches screens.
Stranger Things 5: The Final Chapter
Release Schedule and Format
Stranger Things 5 represented a significant shift in Netflix’s release strategy for the franchise. Rather than dropping all episodes at once or releasing them weekly, the final season was divided into three distinct volumes. Volume 1, consisting of the first four episodes, premiered on November 26, 2025, coinciding with Thanksgiving. Volume 2, containing episodes 5 through 7, arrived on Christmas Day, December 25, 2025. The series finale, a standalone eighth episode titled “The Rightside Up,” premiered on New Year’s Eve, December 31, 2025.
This staggered release created an extended event viewing experience that kept Stranger Things in the cultural conversation for over a month. The finale also received a limited theatrical release in over 620 theaters across the United States and Canada, with showtimes beginning December 31 and continuing through New Year’s Day. This theatrical component generated over 25 million in concession revenue and saw pre-sales of 1.1 million tickets.
Episode Runtimes
The final season maintained the cinematic scope established in Season 4, with most episodes running well over an hour. The runtimes for Stranger Things 5 were:
* Episode 1: “The Crawl” – 1 hour 8 minutes
* Episode 2: “The Vanishing of…” – 54 minutes
* Episode 3: “The Turnbow Trap” – 1 hour 6 minutes
* Episode 4: “Sorcerer” – 1 hour 23 minutes
* Episode 5: “Shock Jock” – 1 hour 8 minutes
* Episode 6: “Escape from Camazotz” – 1 hour 15 minutes
* Episode 7: “The Bridge” – 1 hour 6 minutes
* Episode 8: “The Rightside Up” – 2 hours 8 minutes
The finale’s runtime of over two hours made it one of the longest episodes in streaming television history, providing ample space for the Duffers to wrap up all remaining storylines and character arcs.
Critical and Audience Reception
Stranger Things 5 achieved widespread acclaim while generating massive viewership numbers. The season holds an 85% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes based on 141 reviews, with critics praising the series for playing its cards just right and solidifying its status as a pop culture classic. After Volume 2’s release, the season had accumulated 34.5 million views, contributing to Netflix’s best Christmas viewership ever.
The series as a whole surpassed 1.2 billion total views on Netflix, cementing its position as one of the platform’s most successful original series of all time. This massive audience ensures continued interest in any spinoff projects Netflix develops.
The Broader Stranger Things Universe
Stage Productions
Beyond the television spinoffs, the Stranger Things universe has expanded into live theater with Stranger Things: The First Shadow. This stage play premiered on London’s West End in 2023 and is currently running on Broadway. The production explores events from the past that connect to the main series mythology, and the Duffer Brothers have indicated that the play contains important information for understanding certain aspects of Season 5.
Books, Games, and More
The Stranger Things franchise has spawned numerous tie-in novels, comic books, and video games that expand the universe in various directions. These supplementary materials explore character backstories, fill in gaps between seasons, and introduce new corners of the Stranger Things world. While not all of these are considered strictly canonical, they demonstrate the franchise’s multimedia appeal and commercial viability.
Key Information Tables
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85
Stranger Things 5 Release Schedule
What Makes These Spinoffs Different
The Stranger Things spinoff approach differs significantly from how other major franchises have expanded their universes. Rather than creating interconnected storylines that require viewers to consume all content to understand any single piece, the Duffers are pursuing a more anthology-style approach. Each project will stand on its own while maintaining the essential DNA of what makes Stranger Things special.
This strategy acknowledges the risk of franchise fatigue while capitalizing on the brand’s strengths. Tales from ’85 offers a more accessible entry point for younger viewers or families who might find the main series too intense, while the live-action spinoff promises to explore new territory entirely. By maintaining creative control and refusing to rush projects to market, the Duffers hope to preserve the quality that made Stranger Things a phenomenon in the first place.
