The day we've all been dreading has come. We can't believe the show that started as a small-town sci-fi mystery and grew into one of the biggest hits on Netflix has officially come to an end. After two exciting batches of episodes released on Thanksgiving Eve and Christmas Day, the Stranger Things series finale has finally dropped on the platform.
Today marks the end of an era, closing the chapter on Hawkins and the characters we’ve loved and rooted for over the years. In the final episode of the hit sci-fi series, the Hawkins gang squares up against Vecna one last time to finally put an end to his reign of terror and save their town. Will they be able to defeat Vecna once and for all, or will Hawkins be forever changed by his plan to merge worlds?
Of course, we're not going to spoil anything here about how Stranger Things wraps up. What we're here to do is inform you about the future of the Stranger Things universe. Unfortunately, there won't be a sixth season. Let's start there. But fans don't need to despair. Two new spinoffs are in the works at Netflix, meaning the Stranger Things universe is far from finished.
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 is coming to Netflix in 2026
The first Stranger Things spinoff that's already been made and is set for a release on Netflix sometime in 2026 is the upcoming animated series Stranger Things: Tales from '85. Officially greenlit in April 2023, this spinoff is created by Eric Robles and executive-produced by The Duffer Brothers.
It follows the beloved Hawkins kids—Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max—between the events of seasons 2 and 3, as they face new monsters from the Upside Down and work together to solve a terrifying new paranormal mystery threatening the town.
While fans will recognize the characters, they won't recognize the actors voicing them. Stranger Things: Tales from '85 features a brand-new voice cast, meaning the original live-action actors will not be reprising their roles. The voice cast is made up of Brett Gipson (Jim Hopper), Luca Diaz (Mike Wheeler), Brooklyn Davey Norstedt (Eleven/Jane Hopper), Braxton Quinney (Dustin Henderson), Elisha Williams (Lucas Sinclair), Ben Plessala (Will Byers), and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport (Max Mayfield).
In addition to the core group, the series also introduces a new character, Nikki Baxter, who joins the kids on their adventures. However, it's unknown who will be voicing the Nikki character. Other talented actors such as Odessa A'zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips are also included in the voice cast.
A Stranger Things live-action spinoff is in development at Netflix
There's the Stranger Things animated series, and then there's the Stranger Things live-action spinoff. We've known about this spinoff for a while now, but the Duffer Brothers recently provided more details in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter. There's not much that they shared, but it's something.
According to the Duffers, the live-action spinoff will be set in a different decade and will focus on entirely new characters, marking a clear shift away from the original Hawkins gang. While it will still be connected to the Stranger Things universe, it won’t continue the story of Eleven, the Upside Down, or the events of the main series.
Additionally, the Duffers won’t be the day-to-day bosses of the new show. However, they’ll still be involved in a major way. Last but not least, the spinoff hasn't been officially announced yet, but the Duffers confirmed they are actively working on it and plan to focus more on it in the new year.
"We’re very early days on a live-action spinoff. But this is the end of the story for these characters of Hawkins, for the Upside Down. It’s a different decade and different characters, but of course, still connected to theStranger Thingsuniverse. It’s an idea we’ve had for years and something we’re just really excited and passionate about. We won’t be showrunning that show, but we’ll be heavily involved. So, as the new year comes around, we’re going to start spending more time on that. Hopefully it’s something announced soon-ish."
Now that Stranger Things has finally ended its run, we should start hearing more about the upcoming animated and live-action spinoffs. We're really looking forward to that release date announcement for Stranger Things: Tales from '85 and possibly a casting announcement for the live-action series.
Of course, you can count on us at Winter is Coming to report on this exciting news. That said, make sure you stay tuned!