Even though the fifth season of Stranger Things finished in December, the story isn’t over! Netflix is creating a new animated spin-off called Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 that will continue to follow the characters and events of Hawkins.
The new series launches on the streaming service next week, April 23rd. It takes place between seasons two and three of the original show, and follows the group as they battle fresh threats from the Upside Down.
Okay, so Tales from ’85 has all the same characters we know and love from the show, but it’s a totally new group of actors playing them. Finn Wolfhard, Millie Bobby Brown, Sadie Sink – none of the original cast are back for this one, which is a little weird but I’m still excited to see how it plays out!
The decision was deliberate, as showrunner Eric Robles explained to RadioTimes that using original cast members meant dealing with the fact that everyone’s voice changes as they age.
Introducing those darker designs and voices in season two wouldn’t fit the show’s tone. We were aiming to recreate the sense of youthful energy that the Duffer Brothers loved in the first seasons.
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He explained that they were looking for the natural, unfiltered way children express themselves. The goal was to capture the genuine innocence of childhood, reminding viewers of the unique and often forgotten ways kids communicate.
Okay, so the new crew is awesome! We’ve got Brooklyn Davey Norstedt, Luca Diaz, Benjamin Plessala, Braxton Quinney, Elisha ‘EJ’ Williams, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport, Brett Gipson, and Jeremy Jordan taking on the roles this time around. I’m really excited to see what they bring to the game!
Robles praised the young cast, saying they deliver surprisingly moving performances. She added that they bring fresh perspectives to the stories and explore ideas that the live-action series likely wouldn’t have considered.
Robles, also a producer on the show with the Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy, hinted the spin-off will feel like a missing season of the original series.
The showrunner said they aimed to create something that felt like a continuation of the original series, almost like a ‘lost season,’ and that the story could easily be adapted into a live-action format. He also mentioned drawing inspiration from Steven Spielberg’s film, Jaws, during the making of the show.
Netflix is adding a new science fiction show called The Boroughs, created by the Duffer Brothers.
The new animated special, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, arrives on Netflix April 23rd. You can also watch all five seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix right now.
Read more Stranger Things news on our dedicated homepage
The latest issue of Living Legends is now available! This special 100-page, full-color magazine celebrates the life and work of Sir David Attenborough. You can find it at newsstands or order it online.
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2026-04-17 13:50