As the final gate closed on Stranger Things on New Year's Day 2026, after nearly a decade, fans are eager to know what's next for the franchise. The Duffer Brothers, creators of the hit sci-fi series, have confirmed that the Stranger Things universe will continue to expand with not one, but two spin-offs in development at Netflix.
One of the projects is Stranger Things: Tales From '85, an animated series slated to debut sometime in 2026. Set between seasons 2 and 3, the show will follow the original characters as they "fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town," according to Netflix. Though the characters will be familiar, they will be voiced by new actors. While the Duffer Brothers will be creatively involved, they are handing showrunner duties to animator Eric Robles as they focus on their film and television deal at Paramount. This animated series promises to deliver fresh scares and mysteries while maintaining the core spirit of Stranger Things.
The second spin-off is a live-action series, shrouded in secrecy. The Duffer Brothers have dropped hints about the project, confirming that it will feature an entirely new cast and mythology. Matt Duffer told Variety that creating the show from scratch and developing new characters has "been so fun". He added, "You're starting with new characters—it's like a clean slate. You're not tied up into any knots. There's something refreshing about it". Ross Duffer has debunked fan theories that the spin-off will focus on characters like Holly Wheeler or explore the "Montauk" storyline, which was an early concept for Stranger Things.
One significant detail that the live-action spin-off will delve into is the origin of the mysterious rock found by Henry Creel (Vecna) in the Season 5 finale. This rock, containing Mind Flayer particles, is what fused with Henry and set him on his path to becoming Vecna. Matt Duffer explained that the spin-off would explore this and provide answers. "The spin-off is going to delve into that and explain that, and you're going to understand it," he said. "But it's a completely different mythology. So it's not a deep exploration of the Mind Flayer or anything like that. It's very fresh and very new, but yes, it will answer some of the loose threads that are remaining". The Duffer Brothers also shared that the spin-off won't be completely about the rock, but it will tie up loose ends.
While neither Netflix nor the Duffer Brothers have announced a release date for the live-action spin-off, it is expected to arrive in the next year or two. Bela Bajaria, Netflix's chief creative officer, was still in the dark about the series as of October, suggesting that the project is still in the early stages of development.
In the meantime, fans can look forward to Stranger Things: Tales From '85 in 2026, as well as re-watching the original series and speculating about the secrets that the new spin-off will reveal. The Duffer Brothers aim to deliver a fresh, exciting story that expands the Stranger Things universe while answering lingering questions from the original series.
