Netflix has given fans a first glimpse at a new show connected to Stranger Things, including the actors who will play younger versions of Eleven, Will Byers, and other characters. While everyone is anticipating the final season of the original Stranger Things – set to premiere on Thanksgiving and conclude with a finale on New Year’s Eve in a three-part release – Netflix is already planning to expand the story into a full-fledged franchise. Given how popular Stranger Things is, this isn’t a surprise.
First, there’s Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, a new series set between seasons 2 and 3 of the original show. It follows the group in Hawkins as they uncover some unsettling events. This time, it’s an animated series, and the creators aimed for a visual style similar to Netflix’s Arcane, hoping to capture the look and feel of 1980s cartoons.
The trailer doesn’t reveal much about the story, but it shows the characters getting into their typical mischief before the dangers from the Upside Down start to appear, and hints at a new version of the demogorgon. While most of the original characters will be back, they’ll be voiced by a different cast – likely because of scheduling conflicts, budget considerations, and the actors no longer sounding young enough for the roles. The new voice cast includes:
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max
- Luca Diaz as Mike
- Ej (Elisha) Williams as Lucas
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin
- Ben Plessala as Will
- Brett Gipson as Hopper
- The voice cast also includes Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips in unconfirmed roles.
How Does Tales From ’85 Fit Into Stranger Things?
Season 2 of Stranger Things was set around Halloween of 1984 and concluded with Eleven successfully closing the gate to the Upside Down. However, the season finale hinted that the Mind Flayer would return. Season 3 mainly occurred during the summer of 1985 and followed up on that hint. The new spin-off series begins in early 1985, and footage shows it taking place in winter. In it, the group faces even more dangers connected to the Upside Down.
As a big fan of the Stranger Things universe, I’m excited about this potential expansion, but I do see a tricky balancing act ahead. Since this new animated show takes place before Season 3, it needs to avoid creating plot holes – things that should have been mentioned later on. It’s gotta raise the stakes enough to feel like a meaningful addition to the story, but not so much that it seems weird we never heard about it in the main show. It’s a delicate line to walk, but if they pull it off, it could be fantastic!
If the new series Tales From ’85 does well, it could give Netflix a simple way to expand the Stranger Things universe and continue telling stories about the characters we love. There’s a significant gap in time between seasons 3 and 4, and another jump expected in season 5, which leaves room for additional stories like this one. However, creating more content this way could also lead to plot holes or inconsistencies.
This is likely only the first of several potential Stranger Things spin-offs, in whatever direction they go. According to an interview with the Duffer Brothers in Variety from October 2025, one spin-off is already in development with their involvement, though they won’t be the main showrunners. It will have some connections to the original series, but won’t feature any of the core characters. The fifth season’s ending is intended to wrap up the story for those characters and the Upside Down, so it will be interesting to see how the franchise evolves from there.
Fans can look forward to more from the world of Stranger Things! A new series, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, will arrive on Netflix in 2026. Plus, the fifth and final season of Stranger Things will be released in three parts: the first on Thanksgiving, the second on Christmas Day, and the third on New Year’s Eve.
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2025-11-06 20:11