Stranger Things has officially come to an end after five seasons on Netflix. While we've seen the end of Eleven, Mike, Hopper, Will, and the rest of the gang who has been with the series since the beginning, there is an upcoming Stranger Things spinoff in the works, and it might have secretly teased in the season 5 finale.
For months, we've all been wondering what's on the docket for the Stranger Things spinoff. Matt and Ross Duffer have been adamant that the story of these characters in Hawkins is officially over, but they've also been more coy to tease more about what's next for this world.
According to an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Ross Duffer had this to say:
"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 the Stranger Things universe. 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."
The most obvious idea for the Stranger Things spinoff is a story about the origin of the Nevada Project and Dr. Brenner's father leading a Naval crew into the Abyss, or Dimension X, for the first time. We know about this part of the story thanks to Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
As the lore goes, Captain Brenner was the only survivor after the USS Eldridge went to the Abyss in 1943 during Project Rainbow. There's a lot we still don't know, but the thinking is that they brought something back during their "voyage," and that's how Henry comes in contact with the Mind Flayer.
No, the Stranger Things spinoff will not be about Eleven
While we would love the Eleven spinoff to happen, this is the end of her story, according to the Duffer brothers. But, there's still more of this story left to be told, even if it doesn't involve these great characters.
We have learned that Henry Creel crossed paths with these scientists and people in the early 1950s, and that's how he came in contact with the Mind Flayer for the first time. That's what led to all of this.
We saw little snippets of Henry's introduction to the Mind Flayer through his memories in Vol. 2's "Escape From Camazots." Henry comes across a scientist who is losing his mind. He shoots a young Henry in the hand, and Henry kills him with a rock, or so we thought.
Then, he opens the briefcase, which contains a space rock and Mind Flayer particles. It fuses with Henry, and he becomes one with the monster.
The man isn't actually dead, though. He's awake, and he tells Henry how to fight back.
"You have to resist it," the man says. "It will consume you. It will consume all."
Henry uses his powers for the first time and murders the man.
Clearly, this man has some experience with the Mind Flayer. He knows that the Mind Flayer is going to kill everything. He tells Henry as much. And, that seems like the perfect set-up for the next Stranger Things story.
How did the man end up in the tunnels with the briefcase? Where was he going? Was he trying to stop this once and for all? While we just watched the heroes of Hawkins beat the Mind Flayer and Vecna, there's still so much we don't know about the Mind Flayer, and that's exciting. It's one of the untapped areas I'd like to see explored in future Netflix shows.
Ultimately, it makes the most sense to follow Dr. Brenner's father's story in a spinoff. There's so much drama to explore there with the science, the exploration, the death and destruction, and the Mind Flayer. This whole situation is what led Dr. Brenner to Henry Creel, Project MK Ultra, and the rest of his life story.
So, if I had to bet, that's what I think the Stranger Things spinoff will be. We'll keep you posted as we find out more!