The first Stranger Things spinoff, Tales from ‘85, is fast approaching. From the cast to early plot details, here’s everything we know about the animated series.
A full decade on from the Season 1 premiere, Stranger Things has now drawn to a close. 42 episodes spanning five seasons told the story of Hawkins and the many fantastical elements in play in the otherwise subdued town. But, even though the main campaign has wrapped, as any D&D fan knows, the next adventure is just around the corner.
Netflix isn’t dropping the Stranger Things franchise anytime soon. Far from it, in fact, with multiple spinoffs already in the pipeline. First up comes Tales from ‘85, an animated show set to showcase a new period with some of our favorite characters leading the charge.
So to get you up to speed before it’s streaming on Netflix, here’s a comprehensive look at everything you need to know.
No, the first Stranger Things spinoff series doesn’t have a set release date yet.
What we do know for certain is that Netflix aims to debut the show at some point in 2026, though it’s unclear exactly when.
Given the main series just concluded on December 31, 2025, it’s safe to assume we’ll have to wait at least a little while for Tales from ‘85, so don’t expect it imminently. Rather, we’d bet on a release in the second half of 2026.
What is the Stranger Things spinoff about? Plot details
This spinoff show takes place between Season 2 and Season 3 of the mainline series. Following the usual crew of Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max, we see them face off with new monsters of the Upside Down in the Winter of 1985.
Tales from ‘85 is framed akin to an ’80s cartoon. As such, the more family-friendly approach won’t necessarily focus on lofty character arcs and violent villains like those we’ve grown accustomed to. One early description highlights ‘Pumpkin-Zombies’ as an Upside Down creature that the kids may fend off.
Given it’s all set between regular seasons too, the stakes are certainly lower as we know the story continues in a certain direction. Therefore, expect more casual spooks and a bit of fun with characters we all know and love, and maybe a few surprise additions along the way too. More on that below.
Who’s in it? Tales from ‘85 cast confirmed
While Tales from ‘85 focuses on the main group of characters from Stranger Things, the original cast won’t be reprising their roles here in the animated spinoff. Instead, a batch of new voice actors have been in the booth to bring this take of the characters to life.
Alongside the likes of Eleven and Will comes a brand-new character made just for the show. Nikki Baxter will be joining the group at various points during the spinoff, though we know little about this child for the time being, beyond the fact that she has pink hair.
- Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper
- Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven / Jane Hopper
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson
- Elisha Williams as Lucas Sinclair
- Ben Plessala as Will Byers
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield
Is there a trailer?
Our first look at Tales from ‘85 came on November 6, 2025, when a brief teaser was shared across social media. Here, we got a glimpse at the animation style, along with confirmation on which characters will be appearing.
Beyond that, we’re yet to see a full-fledged trailer for the spinoff. However, given the series has been in the works since 2023, and the mainline show is now behind us, it shouldn’t be long until we get a proper look.
Rest assured, we’ll keep you up to speed with all the latest details as they emerge.
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