After nearly a decade on Netflix, Stranger Things has officially come to an end. The coming-of-age story that began in Hawkins, Indiana, closed the door on its original characters — literally and figuratively — in the series finale. Still, with a universe this rich, fans aren’t ready to say goodbye just yet. Netflix has already confirmed an animated series, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, and hinted at more projects to come. While the Duffer Brothers insist the core story is finished, the franchise offers plenty of fertile ground for compelling spin-offs. Here are five Stranger Things spin-offs we’d love to see after the finale.
1. Hopper and Joyce Go to Montauk
One of the finale’s most intriguing teases revealed that Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers plan to leave Hawkins behind and start a new life in Montauk, New York. The name isn’t accidental. “Montauk” was the original concept that inspired Stranger Things, rooted in conspiracy theories about secret government experiments. A spin-off centered on Hopper and Joyce could blend crime drama, supernatural mystery and emotional depth — while finally giving Joyce the layered storytelling many fans feel she deserved.
2. Murray Bauman, Government Agent
Murray Bauman may be eccentric, paranoid and wildly inappropriate — but he’s also proven himself incredibly capable. Over the series, Murray infiltrated enemy territory, helped rescue Hopper, and played a key role in shutting down the Upside Down. A spin-off following Murray as a reluctant government asset or rogue intelligence operative could balance humor with high-stakes intrigue. Watching him stumble through classified missions while uncovering more supernatural secrets would be chaotic in the best possible way.
3. Stranger Things: The Next Generation
Season 5 quietly set up a passing-of-the-torch moment through Holly Wheeler, who emerges as a leader among a younger group of kids already aware of Hawkins’ dark history. This spin-off could return the franchise to its roots: bikes, D&D, friendship and creeping dread. The twist? This generation already knows monsters are real. With government cleanup efforts likely returning to Hawkins, the town may still need saving — again.
4. The First Shadow Comes to Screen
Fans who saw the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow know it expands crucial lore around Henry Creel, better known as Vecna. A screen adaptation would allow a deeper exploration of Hawkins’ past, including the early experiments that led to the Upside Down. Given how often season 5 referenced events from the play, adapting The First Shadow feels less like a “want” and more like an eventual inevitability.
5. Eleven’s Life After Hawkins
The finale left Eleven on an intentionally ambiguous note. With her ties to Hawkins severed, she becomes the last known psychokinetic navigating a world that still fears — and hunts — people like her. A time-jump spin-off could follow Eleven as a young adult trying to live quietly, only to be pulled back into conflict. With Millie Bobby Brown proving her leading-lady power in other franchises, this could take Stranger Things in a bold, globe-spanning direction.
The Door May Be Closed — But the World Is Still Open
The Duffer Brothers may be done telling the original story, but Stranger Things remains one of Netflix’s most valuable and expansive universes. Whether through legacy characters, prequels or new generations, Hawkins still has stories left to tell.
