Even though Stranger Things wrapped its flagship story with the emotional finale of Season 5 on December 31, 2025, Netflix and the show’s creators are making it clear: the Upside Down universe isn’t going away. Two major spin-off projects — an animated series and a new live-action show with a fresh mythology — are officially in the works.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 — Animated Series Coming in 2026
Netflix announced the first Stranger Things animated spin-off, titled Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, which is set to premiere in 2026. This project moves the saga into animation while staying canonically linked to the original series timeline.
- Setting: Winter of 1985, between Stranger Things Seasons 2 and 3
- Story: Familiar characters — including Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin and Max — return in animated form to face new supernatural mysteries and Upside Down threats.
- Creator involvement: The series is executive produced by original showrunners Matt and Ross Duffer, alongside Shawn Levy and others, and developed by animated series creator Eric Robles.
- Tone & Style: It aims for a nostalgic ’80s Saturday-morning cartoon vibe, blending mystery, horror, and animation flair to expand the world in new visual directions.
Unlike typical continuations, this animated version doesn’t replace the live-action show — it augments it, giving fans new adventures with characters they’ve grown to love while embracing creative freedom that animation allows.
A Brand-New Live-Action Stranger Things Series in Development
In addition to the animated show, the Duffer Brothers have confirmed another live-action spin-off is underway — one that won’t feature the original Hawkins gang.
According to creators Matt and Ross Duffer:
- This new series will unfold in a new town, with entirely new characters and new mythology.
- While it won’t center on Eleven, Mike, or the original cast, it will address unresolved questions from the original story, like the mysterious rock tied to Henry and the Upside Down.
- The spin-off will remain connected to the Stranger Things universe but will stand on its own with fresh threats, themes, and narrative possibilities.
The Duffers said they were excited to return to work on this project starting January 5, 2026, treating it as a chance to build a new world with its own identity while respecting the original series’ legacy. (Source: Cosmopolitan)
Expanding the Stranger Things Universe
These two projects mark a significant shift in how Netflix plans to extend the Stranger Things brand:
- Tales From ’85 provides nostalgic callbacks to Hawkins and the core crew, in a format that lets creators explore more imaginative arcs.
- The new live-action series opens the door to a broader mythology, potentially introducing audiences to new towns, worlds, and mysteries within the same supernatural framework.
Importantly, the original Stranger Things creators have made it clear that Season 5 was always designed to be the definitive end for the original characters’ story, and these spin-offs are ways to broaden the universe without undoing that conclusion.
Fans React
Fans online are excited but mixed in response:
- Many celebrate the chance to see more Hawkins stories and spin-offs expanding the lore.
- Others cautioned that nothing may capture the original’s magic, though animation and new live-action promise creative freedom and the opportunity for fresh narratives.
Final Take: Stranger Things Lives On — Just Differently
Though Stranger Things ended with Season 5’s finale on New Year’s Eve, the universe continues to evolve:
- Animated spin-off Tales From ’85 arrives in 2026, bringing classic characters back in a new style and era.
- A new live-action series with new faces and mythology is in development, promising a fresh chapter for the Stranger Things universe.
For fans and newcomers alike, this means the mysteries of Hawkins — and beyond — will unfold in exciting, unexpected ways across formats and timelines.
