‘Stranger Things’ Fans Rejoice: Live-Action Spinoff Gets New Details
A new live-action spinoff of Stranger Things is in development, but fans still know very little about it. Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer have been planning the project for years, but they’ve kept the details secret.
The Duffers told Variety in 2022 that almost no one knows the concept. “We think everyone – including Netflix – will be surprised when they hear the concept, because it’s very, very different,” they said.
Interestingly, actor Finn Wolfhard guessed the idea correctly on his own, though no one else has been given any hints. Wolfhard later told The Tonight Show in 2023 that he figured it out by thinking about a “cool” way to expand the Stranger Things universe.
Despite speculation, the Duffers have made it clear that the spinoff will not focus on characters from the original series or the Upside Down.
Ross Duffer told Screen Rant that the show will “relate in some ways” to Stranger Things but will feature a completely new story, new actors, and a new location. The timeline will also be different, taking place in a decade other than the 1980s.
Matt Duffer emphasized that the spinoff will keep the style and tone of Stranger Things. “It’s very different … but it’s also very much ‘Stranger Things,’” he said. Ross added that while there will be some connections to the original series, the show will feel almost like an anthology.
Wolfhard previously suggested the spinoff could be an anthology similar to Twin Peaks, but the Duffers have since clarified that this idea isn’t accurate. They did, however, hint that one small scene in the Stranger Things finale gives a clue about the new series, though fans will have to pay close attention to notice it.
Netflix has not announced a premiere date, and the show is likely still a few years away. Bela Bajaria, Netflix’s chief creative officer, said in October that she hadn’t yet been briefed on the project. But Matt Duffer told Deadline in November, “We’re trying to get it to go pretty quickly. So hopefully it’s gonna happen soon.”
This spinoff shows that the Stranger Things universe isn’t finished expanding. By exploring a completely new story and era, the Duffers can experiment while keeping the spirit of the original series alive.
This approach could be exciting for fans who want fresh stories without rehashing the old plotlines. What do you think about a Stranger Things spinoff with new characters and a new setting? Share your thoughts in the comments.
