There’s still months to go until Stranger Things Season 5 lands on Netflix, and already the cast and crew are looking ahead to the live-action spinoff – but don’t expect a carbon copy of the source material.
Stranger Things has been a cultural phenomenon ever since it first debuted (and made us obsessed with Eggo waffles), launching its child cast to worldwide fame. But that was nine years ago.
It’s no surprise that Millie Bobby Brown, Caleb McLaughlin, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, and co. are ready to enter the next chapter of their careers, with Season 5 of the hit Netflix show marking the end of the road for the Hawkins gang.
But for creators Matt and Ross Duffer, this may only be the beginning. In 2022, Netflix announced plans to turn Stranger Things into a franchise, with the Duffer brothers working on a live-action spinoff. Little was known about the project, until now.
Finn Wolfhard reveals Twin Peaks style Stranger Things spinoff series
In a conversation with Variety, Wolfhard revealed that the new series will match the tone of David Lynch’s Twin Peaks, but it will follow an anthology format, with separate stories all connected to the Upside Down.
Anyone hoping to see a return to Hawkins, don’t hold your breath: the plan isn’t to bring back any of the OGs (for now), but instead venture out while still staying true to the original Stranger Things.
The Mike Wheeler star said it’ll be “like David Lynch’s Twin Peaks. Sort of an anthology and different tones but similar universe or same universe. I think set in different places and all tied together through this mythology of the Upside Down.
“Don’t even talk about Hawkins. Don’t have any mention of our characters. They were toying around with ideas in case Netflix wanted them. I’m sure they do, and I’m sure it will happen, but there’s nothing official.
“I think the coolest way, the way that I would do it, there has to be labs everywhere. If there was one in Hawkins, there’s one in Russia. Where else could they be?”
Now, you might be wondering: if Wolfhard isn’t involved, why is he dishing the goods? Well, as is revealed in the report, he managed to accurately predict the concept before the Duffers had uttered a word to him.
Ross Duffer said, “Nobody – not Netflix, not any of the producers, not any of the directors, not any of the actors – nobody else has figured out what the spinoff is. Finn figured out, which is pretty remarkable. We’ve mind-melded with this kid a bit.”
Even though Netflix is yet to officially confirm the new TV show, the Duffer brothers have repeatedly said they’re working on it, having formed Upside Down Pictures in 2022 and committing to multiple projects at the streaming service.
Are any other spinoffs in the works?
Alongside the live-action series, animated TV show Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is going ahead, which will be set between Season 2 and 3 of the original. This means all of the main characters will be back, although it’s unclear if the cast will return to voice them.
When Netflix revealed the title in April, the Duffer brothers told Tudum, “We’ve always dreamed of an animated Stranger Things in the vein of the Saturday morning cartoons that we grew up loving, and to see this dream realized has been absolutely thrilling.”
They will be serving as executive producers, while Eric Robles is jumping in as showrunner. “We couldn’t be more blown away by what Eric Robles and his team have come up with –– the scripts and artwork are incredible, and we can’t wait to share more with you,” the brothers continued.
No doubt we’ll learn more about these projects after the flagship series draws to a close. Stranger Things Season 5 Part 1 drops on November 26, 2025, with Part 2 following on Christmas Day 2025 and Part 3 on New Year’s Eve 2025.
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