Stranger Things Officially Reveals Recast OG Characters’ Returns In Next Netflix Series

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I’m so excited for more Stranger Things! Even though the main story is wrapping up, it’s amazing to know we’re getting an animated special called Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. It’s going to take place between seasons two and three, showing what Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, and Will were up to during the winter of 1985. Apparently, they’ll be dealing with new monsters and a really creepy paranormal mystery right here in Hawkins. I can’t wait to see what happens!

Netflix has announced that Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 will be released in 2026, continuing the story after the fifth season of Stranger Things concludes on December 31, 2025. To celebrate Stranger Things Day, Netflix just shared a first glimpse of the animated series and how it will bring back the original characters in Tales from ’85.

According to co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer, the idea for the animated spin-off was one of the first they had when thinking about the future of the series. They say Tales from ’85 allowed them to recreate the vibe of 1980s cartoons, and the animation format gave them creative freedom. Showrunner Eric Robles adds that the snowy setting helps them capture the special feeling of Hawkins in a fresh way.

The new preview shows Nancy driving Mike and his friends, as they prepare for an adventure with flashlights, walkie-talkies, and bikes. We also get a glimpse of a small, strange monster from the Upside Down near Hawkins Lab, and some concept art reveals Hopper will be returning, along with other familiar faces.

As a huge fan, I was so excited to see Netflix release a couple of first-look images from the new season! One shot is seriously creepy – it shows a gigantic monster from the Upside Down, and honestly, its inner mouth reminded me a lot of the creatures from Alien. You can see Mike, El, Lucas, Dustin, Max, and Will completely tangled up in its limbs. The other image is a bit more focused on Eleven, with her raising her hand and the rest of the gang surrounding her with flashlights, clearly getting ready to dive into another scary mystery.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Voice Cast Revealed

Okay, so I was surprised to hear that the original cast of Stranger Things isn’t actually doing the voices for the new animated spinoff, Tales from ’85. I mean, they’ve been playing these characters since 2016, but it sounds like they’re bringing in a whole new voice cast to play everyone for the animation. It’s a bit different than what I expected, but I’m still curious to see how it turns out!

The voice cast for the new series includes Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven (known from WeCrashed), Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max (In Your Dreams), Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler (Migration), EJ Williams as Lucas Sinclair (The Wonder Years), Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson (Bigger), Ben Plessala as Will Byers (Castlevania: Nocturne), and Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper (Station 19). They are taking over the roles previously portrayed by Millie Bobby Brown and others.

The voice cast for Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 also features Odessa A’zion (known for Until Dawn), Janeane Garofalo (Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion), and Lou Diamond Phillips from La Bamba. Phillips’ involvement continues the Stranger Things tradition of casting actors who were popular in the 1980s.

Although the animated series Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is scheduled to premiere in 2026, Netflix hasn’t announced a specific release date yet. We also don’t know how many episodes will be in the series.

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2025-11-06 19:29