‘Stranger Things’ Creators May Leave Netflix for Paramount: Here’s What This Means for the Show

Hollywood deals can change fast, and the latest surprise involves Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of “Stranger Things.” Reports say the Duffer Brothers are in advanced talks to leave Netflix for a big deal at Paramount. If the deal goes through, they would focus on making movies and TV shows, especially big-budget tentpole projects.

The move would also bring them back together with Cindy Holland, Paramount’s new head of streaming, who originally approved “Stranger Things” at Netflix. They would also work with Josh Greenstein and Dana Goldberg, who oversee creative projects for films and series at Paramount.

Reps for the Duffers didn’t comment, and a Paramount spokesperson didn’t respond to requests for comment, according to the sources. Despite this potential new deal, the Duffers will still have ongoing projects with Netflix through their company Upside Down Pictures, run with producing partner Hilary Leavitt. The name comes from the strange alternate world in “Stranger Things.”

The Duffers have already finished two new series for Netflix that are set to debut in 2026. One is an adventure show called “The Boroughs,” starring Bill Pullman, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, and Alfred Molina.

The other is a horror-centered relationship series called “Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen,” featuring Jennifer Jason Leigh. Fans also got a sneak peek at the animated prequel, “Stranger Things: Tales From ’85,” at the Annecy Festival in June 2025. After the fifth and final season of “Stranger Things,” coming in November, the Duffers are expected to create a live-action spin-off, though no details have been announced yet.

Before “Stranger Things,” the Duffers nearly didn’t make it in Hollywood. Their first movie, the post-apocalyptic thriller “Hidden,” was delayed for years by Warner Bros. and ended up being released only on video-on-demand. But M. Night Shyamalan liked their script so much that he hired them to write for his 2015 Fox series “Wayward Pines.”

Their pilot script for what would become “Stranger Things” was rejected by nearly every network, until Shawn Levy and his company 21 Laps helped sell the show to Netflix. The first season, which the Duffers directed six out of eight episodes, became an instant hit in July 2016. It was Netflix’s first major original series without a big-name creator. The fourth season went on to become Netflix’s most-watched English-language series ever when it debuted in 2022.

As for the future of “Stranger Things,” the potential Paramount deal shouldn’t disrupt the fifth season or the spin-off. According to the sources, the Duffers will continue working with Netflix while also exploring new opportunities at Paramount. Fans can expect the show and its related projects to continue as planned.

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