Stranger Things Will Return in 2026 — But There's a Catch
Netflix has confirmed the release of an animated spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales From '85, scheduled to debut in 2026. The series will take place between Seasons 2 and 3 of the original show, exploring the unseen events in Hawkins, Indiana.
Setting and Timeline
The story unfolds after Will Byers (Noah Schnapp) survived the Shadow Monster and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) sealed the gate to the Upside Down. It bridges the gap before the appearance of the Starcourt Mall and the emotional farewell to Bob (Sean Astin).
Cast and Characters
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max
- Luca Diaz as Mike
- Ej (Elisha) Williams as Lucas
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin
- Ben Plessala as Will
- Brett Gipson as Hopper
Additional cast members include Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips, adding further star power to the project.
Production Team
The series will be showrun and executive produced by Eric Robles. The Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross, return as executive producers alongside Hilary Leavitt, Shawn Levy through his company 21 Laps, and Dan Cohen.
“Stranger Things: Tales From '85 gives new insight into what is happening in Hawkins between those seasons.”
Author’s Summary
The new animated series Stranger Things: Tales From '85 revives Hawkins’ world in 2026, bridging Seasons 2 and 3 with a fresh voice cast and familiar creative team.