As Stranger Things reaches its long-awaited conclusion, Netflix is making it clear that the franchise’s world is far from finished. The series finale arrives on New Year’s Eve, closing the chapter on Hawkins and its core characters — but new stories are already in development. Since its debut in 2016, Stranger Things has grown into a global phenomenon, expanding beyond television into books, video games and a Broadway-style stage production. Now, at least two spinoff projects are officially in the works.
An Animated Series Set in 1985
The most advanced spinoff is Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, an animated show slated to premiere in 2026. Netflix says the series will take place between Seasons 2 and 3 of the original show, returning viewers to Hawkins during the winter of 1985.
Despite the format change, familiar faces will return. Characters including Eleven, Max, Mike, Lucas, Dustin, Will and Hopper will all appear, though new voice actors will take on the roles. Netflix’s synopsis promises “new monsters” and a fresh paranormal mystery that threatens the town, while maintaining the tone and style that defined the original series.
A Second Spinoff — and a Big Mystery
Netflix is also developing a live-action spinoff, though details remain tightly under wraps. Series creators Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer have confirmed the concept is “very different” from Stranger Things, with an entirely new cast, setting and time period.
The only person who reportedly guessed the idea early was Finn Wolfhard, who played Mike Wheeler. Wolfhard has since suggested the project could resemble an anthology, but the Duffers later clarified that this may no longer reflect the final plan. What is confirmed is that the show will not revisit Hawkins or follow the original group of characters. Instead, it will explore a new corner of the Upside Down mythology.
A Different Decade, Same DNA
Ross Duffer has said the spinoff takes place in a different decade, not the 1980s. While the setting will change, the creators insist the storytelling style will remain consistent.
“There’s connective tissue,” Matt Duffer has explained, “but we’re not trying to create an insanely convoluted mythology.”
Fans may catch an early clue in the Stranger Things finale itself. According to Ross Duffer, a brief scene in the final episode subtly hints at what’s coming next.
When Will the Spinoff Arrive?
No release date has been announced for the live-action spinoff, and Netflix executives have said development is still in early stages. Production is expected to take several years, though the Duffers have said they hope to move quickly once plans are finalised.
