Stranger Things may have wrapped up its main storyline with the finale of season 5, but Netflix isn’t done with Hawkins just yet. Even though the core arc imagined by creators Matt and Ross Duffer is officially complete, the world of the series is being carefully extended through new projects that respect the ending fans just watched.
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 brings the gang back in animated form
The most concrete project on the way is Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, an animated series scheduled to hit Netflix sometime in 2026. Instead of continuing after the finale, this show dives back into the past, taking place between seasons 2 and 3 of the original series, during the winter of 1985 in Hawkins.
In this timeline, the small Indiana town once again becomes the center of strange and supernatural activity. Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin and Max are all back on screen, facing fresh threats connected to the Upside Down. The idea is to revisit the classic ensemble fans know, but through a different format and with self-contained stories.
Each episode is built around its own mystery: a new case to investigate, clues to follow, and a conclusion by the end of the story. There’s no direct narrative bridge to the events of season 5, so nothing in the animated show rewrites or undermines the final moments of the live-action series.
The Duffers stay in charge of the Stranger Things universe
Even as the franchise shifts formats, the original creative brains behind Stranger Things aren’t walking away. Matt and Ross Duffer are overseeing Tales from ’85 as executive producers, joined by longtime collaborators Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen.
The day-to-day creative direction of the animated series is handled by Eric Robles, who serves as showrunner. Animation duties are carried out by studio Flying Bark, with an art direction that nods to the fantasy and supernatural cartoons of the 1980s.
Visually, the series leans into a stylized 3D look, brighter and more colorful than the live-action counterpart, while still keeping the eerie, otherworldly atmosphere that defines Stranger Things. The aesthetic draws from influences such as Ghostbusters and Scooby-Doo, but reshaped to fit the tone of this specific universe.
A new voice cast for familiar heroes
While the core characters remain the same, the animated series uses a different voice cast in its original version. The main roles are performed by:
- Brett Gipson (Jim Hopper)
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt (Eleven)
- Luca Diaz (Mike)
- Braxton Quinney (Dustin)
- Elisha Williams (Lucas)
- Ben Plessala (Will)
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport (Max)
Additional roles are voiced by other actors, including Janeane Garofalo and Lou Diamond Phillips, rounding out the cast around the main group of characters.
Beyond Hawkins: a new live-action series with a fresh start
Stranger Things is not only expanding through animation. Netflix and the Duffer brothers are also working on a new live-action series set in the same franchise, but built on a different foundation from the original show.
This upcoming project is not positioned as a sequel, a prequel, or a direct spin-off. Instead, it’s conceived as a completely new story, with its own cast of characters and a different setting. What carries over is the signature Stranger Things DNA: young leads at the center of the story, a blend of science fiction, fantasy and adventure, and the kind of genre mix that made the original so popular.
The strategy is close to a modern anthology approach. Each series within the Stranger Things umbrella is designed to tell a complete narrative on its own, without relying on Hawkins or on the fates of the original heroes to function.
With this shift, Stranger Things is moving from a single, serialized show to a broader, curated universe. The goal is clear: allow the franchise to continue evolving in new directions without altering what made the main story and its finale so meaningful for viewers.
Release window and continuity: what fans need to know
When is Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 coming out?
The animated series is set to premiere on Netflix sometime in 2026.
Does the animated series follow the season 5 ending?
No. The story is placed between seasons 2 and 3 of the original series, and it does not change or extend the conclusion of the main show.
Are there more Stranger Things series on the way?
Yes. A new live-action series is in development, built around a brand-new story, new characters and a new location.
FAQ
Will Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 change the main series canon?
No. The animated show is designed as a standalone set of stories that take place between seasons 2 and 3 and do not alter the events or the ending of Stranger Things season 5.
Do the original Stranger Things actors return for the animated series?
No. The characters are voiced by a new cast in the original version, including Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper, Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, and other actors for the rest of the group.
Is the new live-action Stranger Things project connected to Hawkins?
The new live-action series is set in the Stranger Things universe but is not a direct continuation or prequel. It features a different setting and new characters, separate from Hawkins and the original heroes.
How does Netflix plan to use the Stranger Things brand going forward?
Instead of continuing a single show indefinitely, Netflix and the Duffer brothers are turning Stranger Things into a controlled universe, with different series that tell complete, self-contained stories while keeping the tone and genre blend that define the franchise.
