‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’: Release Date, Cast, Plot, and Everything We Know

by

Okay, so Stranger Things is officially over, and I’m still processing everything! The Duffer Brothers really delivered with the finale, answering so many of the questions we’d been pondering. But it’s not completely over, which is amazing! We’re getting a documentary about Season 5 soon, and even better, a new animated spin-off called Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. As a huge fan, I’m so excited to revisit that world and see what new stories Hawkins, Indiana has to offer.

As a huge fan, I’m excited to hear that even though the Duffer Brothers are busy with a live-action spin-off (details are still pretty scarce!), we’re definitely getting more Stranger Things. The animated series, Tales from ’85, is actually happening, and they’ve already announced the voice cast, shared some plot hints, and given us a timeframe for when it’ll drop. So even though Vecna’s gone and we’re all wondering what Eleven’s up to, it’s great to know this world isn’t ending just yet!

The ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ Spin-off Has Been Confirmed


Netflix

A spin-off series called Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is officially in the works. Netflix announced the animated show back in April 2023, even before the fifth season of Stranger Things premiered (and some viewers felt it left something to be desired). Eric Robles will lead the show as showrunner. Hilary Leavitt and the Duffer Brothers, through their production company Upside Down Pictures, will be executive producers. Dan Cohen and Shawn Levy, both involved in the original series, will also produce.

Because the team behind the hit show Stranger Things is also making the animated spin-off, we can expect it to be just as exciting and full of adventure. Plus, even though Stranger Things has ended, fans can still enjoy stories set in Hawkins with this new series, so it’s not a complete goodbye to the characters we love.

‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85’ Has a 2026 Release Window


Netflix

Although Netflix hasn’t announced a specific date yet, fans can expect Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 to arrive sometime in 2026. The number of episodes in the first season is still unknown, but past seasons of Stranger Things have all had less than 10 episodes, so it’s likely this season will follow suit. Good news: it appears all episodes will be released together, avoiding the multi-part release schedule planned for Season 5 of Stranger Things.

While everyone’s currently talking about Season 1 of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, the show’s creator, Eric Robles, hopes to continue the series. In an interview with Entertainment Weekly, he explained that Season 1 doesn’t cover everything, leaving room for future seasons. He believes they can seamlessly fit into the existing timeline while still having enough time to tell more stories as needed.

Early images of the new spin-off series look promising. Creator Robles shared with EW that he drew inspiration from Kyle Lambert, the artist behind the striking Stranger Things posters. Robles previewed Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 in June 2025, as reported by The Hollywood Reporter, revealing new monsters like a snow shark and pumpkin zombies, designed by Carlos Huante. The series’ visual style also takes cues from the CGI in animated hits Arcane and Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse.

A New Cast Will Voice Beloved ‘Stranger Things’ Characters


Netflix

At first, it might feel a little odd not hearing Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven or Noah Schnapp as Will Byers. However, Stranger Things: Tales from 85 features a new voice cast, and it’ll be interesting to experience these fresh takes on the characters. Brett Gipson will be the voice of Jim Hopper, and Brooklyn Davey Norstedt will voice Eleven. The cast also includes Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala as Will Byers, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Luca Diaz as Mike, and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max.

I’m excited to hear Lou Diamond Phillips, Janeane Garofalo, and Odessa A’zion are joining the cast, though we don’t know who they’ll be playing yet. As for which Stranger Things characters will be in the animated spin-off, it looks like it’s mostly focused on Hopper and the kids – The Party – for now, though I’m hoping other favorites might pop up too!

Several of the young actors in this series have already appeared in well-known shows. Isabella Hoang-Rappaport played Makayla Washington in the 2021 revival of Head of the Class, Julian Hilliard played Dean Williams in the reboot of The Wonder Years, and Davey Norstedt was Amber in WeCrashed. Given their previous work, this cast has the potential to become as famous as the original Stranger Things actors, who gained recognition soon after the show’s first season premiered on Netflix in July 2016.

‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85’ Will Focus on a New Mystery


Netflix

The animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, will present a new mystery unfolding in Hawkins, Indiana. Unlike a continuation of the main series or a story set in the past, this series takes place between Seasons 2 and 3. Season 2 is set in the fall of 1984, and Season 3 occurs during the summer of 1985. Tales from ’85 will be set in the winter of 1985.

The new series promises to be a fun, thrilling, and nostalgic experience. The creators, the Duffer Brothers, told The Hollywood Reporter they’re aiming for a style similar to the Saturday morning cartoons many of us enjoyed as kids. Plus, according to an interview with EW, producer Robles revealed that the show will feature several new monsters. It seems like we’ll be saying goodbye to villains like Vecna and the Mind Flayer and getting ready to face some completely fresh creatures.

Subscribe for in-depth coverage of the Stranger Things spin-off

Get the newsletter for curated coverage of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 — casting updates, artwork reveals, creature and plot breakdowns, and production insights that deepen your understanding of the spin-off. Subscribe to stay informed.

By subscribing, you agree to receive newsletter and marketing emails, and accept Valnet’s
Terms of Use
and
Privacy Policy
. You can unsubscribe anytime.

Robles also noted that he saw “loopholes” in the original show and added:

The experiments at Hawkins Lab are somehow connected to the strange, dangerous world known as the Upside Down. This connection is causing a ripple effect, bringing creatures and unsettling events into our reality.

Now that Robles has revealed the entire first season will center around one main mystery, we can expect a new, captivating storyline similar to the fantastic five-season, decade-long adventure we all loved.

Read More

2026-01-07 18:34