Rumored Stranger Things movie eyed for 2027 release divides fans

It's been one month since Stranger Things' conformity gate conspiracy theory, but there's already another new Stranger Things rumor gaining steam online. This time, it's about a rumored Stranger Things movie eyed for a 2027 release.

On Wednesday, Feb. 18, the celebrity and pop culture gossip account, Deuxmoi, posted a user submission that read "Can't share how I know (I'll get fired) But Stranger Things coming out with a movie in 2027."

Since then, the rumor has been picked up by several popular social media accounts reporting the rumor as fact, including Stranger Things Memes.

At the time of publishing, Netflix has not announced or confirmed a Stranger Things movie is in the works. Obviously, nothing is official until Netflix says it is, but that's not stopping fans from sharing excitement and disappointment about a possible Stranger Things movie.

One X user, @DoudyCalls, tweeted, "A Stranger Things movie? 2027 can’t come fast enough."

Another X user, @Pokechu0107, called the post "fake news" and pointed out the Duffer brothers are officially moving to Paramount in 2026.

A Stranger Things movie is extremely unlikely, but there are spinoffs in development

There are obvious reasons why this rumor is probably nothing. As I mentioned, nothing has been confirmed, and until that happens, there's no reason for fans to get excited. To me, it's extremely unlikely that a Stranger Things movie would be ready for release in 2027.

First of all, movies don't just happen that quickly. Sure, can someone make a movie and release it under two years? Yes, of course. Can Netflix do that and keep it a secret for this long? No, they can't.

If Netflix had a Stranger Things movie in the works, everyone would know because they would announce it, people would be actively working on it, and there would be things happening behind the scenes that are simply too difficult to keep secret in this day and age.

On top of that, Netflix isn't going to move that quickly on a Stranger Things spinoff movie. It took three years to make Stranger Things 5; I don't think a movie can be cranked out this fast.

We already know that the story concerning Eleven and the gang from Hawkins in done for now. The Duffer brothers left some things open, but there's no more story to be told there right now. There's just no possible way that they, or their production company, Upside Down Pictures, is going to spoil a decade of work with a movie this soon.

Down the road, is a Stranger Things movie possible? Probably, but that time is not now.

There are other spinoffs in the works. We have Stranger Things: Tales from '85, the animated spinoff, coming to Netflix on April 23, 2026. We have the other spinoff, teased by the Duffer brothers, about the rock and cave scene with Henry Creel from the Stranger Things 5 finale in the works, as well. That's still a ways away, though.

I don't know where this rumor came from, exactly, but I do think there is a misunderstanding that could be happening.

The rumored Stranger Things movie is probably Stranger Things: The First Shadow

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a very popular stage play that takes place before the events of Stranger Things. It also features some of the characters, including Henry Creel, Joyce Byers, and Jim Hopper, and tells their story from when they were kids in Hawkins, Indiana.

There have been multiple reports that Netflix has filmed Stranger Things: The First Shadow and will release the play on Netflix sometime in the future, potentially next year. The play just shut down in February 2026 for a week to film for the Netflix release, according to Variety.

Jamie Campbell Bower, who stars as Henry Creel in Stranger Things, even went and played the character during the show's run on Broadway for a short stint.

For me, it's so much more likely that whoever started this rumor is getting confused and thinking that Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which will be released on Netflix as a movie, basically, is a different Stranger Things movie. That's the most logical explanation for this situation because we already know Netflix is reportedly releasing Stranger Things: The First Shadow at some point.

Based on how well the Stranger Things 5 finale performed in theaters, I don't think it's out of the question that Netflix could release Stranger Things: The First Shadow, too, and give more fans an opportunity to watch the play and fall in love with the story and art form.

So, that's what I think is happening here. Stranger Things fans should keep their guard up when it comes to these rumors. It's never been more profitable to try to go viral, and unfortunately, that's probably what happened here.

Stay tuned for more news about future Stranger Things projects! We should learn more about Stranger Things: The First Shadow release on Netflix soon.