Stranger Things returns to Netflix this week—but it’s not what you think

It’s only been about four months since the Stranger Things series finale, but the iconic franchise returns to streaming this week. If you think this is a new episode of season 5, think again. Stranger Things: Tales from 1985an animated spin-off series, will premiere on April 23, 2026 on Netflix in the United States.

Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 is a new addition to the Stranger Things universe at Netflix. For starters, this is the first animated spin-off of the flagship series. More importantly, it’s testing whether audiences are ready to see these beloved characters in a new adventure, even if it’s an animated show. Is it too soon for another Stranger Things to show? Like all of you, I’m ready to find out for myself.

What is Stranger Things: Tales of 1985 about?

Return to Hawkins in the 1980s

One of the reasons for Stranger Things’ massive success revolves around 1980s nostalgia. The show captured the sights and sounds of 1980s pop culture, from Ghostbusters And AND to The Police and The Clash. The animated spin-off will channel those same evocative feelings by setting the story in 1985.

Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 takes place in the winter of 1985. The events will take place between season 2 and season 3 of the live-action series. In the season 2 finale, Eleven and the gang closed the door to the Upside Down inside Hawkins Lab. At least that’s what we thought because the season finale scene shows the Mind Flayer observing the group at the school dance.

Before the group faces the Mind Flayer at Starcourt Mall, they must first fight a new creature beneath the snow in Hawkins. What is this? Showrunner Eric Robles described it as a famous creature in one of the best shark movies of all time, Jaws.

“I grew up watching [that movie], and we play with the same trope in the sense [that] Underneath all that snow, there’s something hiding, and you never know where that thing is going to come out and grab you,” Robles told Tudum.

Who is in the cast of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85?

Same characters, different voices

For fans wanting to see Eleven and the gang again, your wish has come true. Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 will feature the characters fans have come to know and love over the past decade. This includes Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Will, Hopper, Steve and more.

However, the animated characters will not be voiced by Netflix’s live-action cast. This means that Millie Bobby Brown nor David Harbor will not voice Eleven and Hopper, respectively. The same can be said for the rest of the notable characters.

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Android Television

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The cast of Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 features Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala as Will, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Brett Gipson as Hopper, Jeremy Jordan as Steve, Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxter, Janeane Garofalo as by Anna Baxter, Alessandra Antonelli as Nancy Wheeler, Alysia Reiner as Karen Wheeler, Valeria Rodriguez as Rosario, Jack Griffo as Jeff, Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel Fischer and Robert Englund as Cosmo.

A notable addition is A’zion as Nikki Baxter, the punk rocker of the team. Sporting a fauxhawk with pink hair, Nikki is the new friend in town who becomes the “barbarian and protector,” according to a Netflix interview with A’zion.

Are the Duffer brothers involved?

Stranger Things creators will have a role to play in the spin-off

The Duffer brothers changed the course of Netflix history with their creation, Stranger Thingswhich has become the streamer’s flagship show. The Duffers are executive producers on Stranger Things: Tales from 1985. However, the Duffers are not the showrunners of the animated series. That role belongs to Robles.

While speaking with Netflix, the Duffers revealed their inspiration behind the animated spinoff.

“The idea was to somehow evoke an ’80s cartoon feeling,” the Duffers said in the official announcement. “With animation, there really are no limits. Eric [Robles] and his team can go wild. And they did it.”

Shawn Levy, who directed several episodes of Stranger Thingsis also executive producer on Tales from 1985 alongside Dan Cohen.

Are more spinoffs on the way?

The mysterious live-action spin-off remains in development

Credit: Netflix

Even though the Duffers are leaving Netflix to make films and TV shows for Paramount, the duo will still deliver a Stranger Things live-action spin-off. The Duffers have revealed little about the live-action spinoff so far. The only hint (via Variety) is that it will deal with the origins of the rock that Henry Creel found in the briefcase in the series finale.

“The spin-off will delve deeper into this [the rock] and explain that, and you’ll understand it,” Matt Duffer told Variety. “But it’s a completely different mythology. So it’s not an in-depth exploration of the Mind Flayer or anything like that. It’s very fresh and very new, but yes, it will answer some of the outstanding discussions. »

Speaking of other productions, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a play on the origins of Henry Creel, is being filmed for Netflix. The show is currently on Broadway and in the West End. We don’t know when The first shadow is going to hit Netflix.

Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 streaming

The 10 episodes of Stranger Things: Tales from 1985 arrives on Netflix April 23. Only one season is planned. Given the popularity of Stranger things, keep an eye on the audience figures. If the ratings are good, I could imagine Netflix wanting another season of this animated series.

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