Netflix Has Already Found Its Perfect Stranger Things Replacement (& It Only Cost $82 Billion)

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It’s tough that Stranger Things is finished – it was such a huge show for Netflix, and I was totally hooked for years! It’s getting harder and harder for any series to create that kind of buzz and keep people watching for so long. Even Wednesday, which I also loved, didn’t do quite as well in its second season, and now that Squid Game is done too, Netflix really needs something new to fill the void. I’m hoping their next big thing comes along quickly!

Many shows could potentially take the place of Stranger Things on Netflix. The streaming service creates a huge amount of content annually, and just like Stranger Things which became popular through viewers sharing it with others, the next big hit might already be in development. However, one potential successor is already generating a lot of buzz: Harry Potter.

Netflix signaled the importance of the Harry Potter franchise when it announced its acquisition of Warner Bros., using images of both Stranger Things and the Wizarding World to represent the two companies. This suggests Netflix sees Harry Potter as a key asset in the $82.7 billion deal – which is still pending – and a strong contender to become its next hit show.

Harry Potter Could Be Huge For Netflix

Even though Netflix currently streams the Harry Potter films, HBO is creating a new TV series based directly on the books. The plan is to dedicate at least one season of television to each book, potentially resulting in a show that runs for nearly ten years, similar to Stranger Things. This series will be available on both HBO and HBO Max. Currently, Netflix intends to keep HBO Max as a separate streaming service, but we can expect to see more shows from HBO Max added to Netflix over time. It’s also possible that, eventually, HBO Max could be fully integrated into Netflix, much like Hulu is becoming part of Disney+.

As a film and TV fan, I think one of the biggest reasons Stranger Things blew up was its incredible nostalgia factor. It also had these relatable kid characters you really rooted for, all facing genuinely huge, epic threats. The upcoming Harry Potter series feels like it hits all the same sweet spots. Plus, it’s Harry Potter – the anticipation is already through the roof! If it eventually lands on Netflix, whether after being on HBO Max or if those platforms merge, I truly believe it’ll be another massive hit, just like Stranger Things was.

Now that Netflix is highlighting Harry Potter as a key part of Warner Bros.’s content, it’s likely they see it as a major asset. This could lead to new shows and movies based on the Wizarding World – something the Fantastic Beasts series struggled with, but still has potential for. Even just a remake of the original series would give Netflix a globally popular show, similar to Stranger Things.

Stranger Things Spinoffs Probably Won’t Be As Big

Netflix is already planning to expand the world of Stranger Things even though Season 6 won’t happen. They’ll likely create new shows and movies based on the same universe to keep fans engaged. We’re already seeing this with an upcoming animated series, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, which will tell a new story featuring the characters between seasons 2 and 3.

An even more ambitious project is a live-action spin-off series. The creators, the Duffer Brothers, are involved, but won’t be the main showrunners. This new story will be set in a different location and time, with a completely new cast of characters. However, it will still connect to the original series, potentially through elements like the strange rock Henry Creel discovered.

Both of these shows will likely find viewers, and the live-action series especially has strong potential to be successful. However, they probably won’t reach the same level of popularity as Stranger Things. This isn’t just due to the mixed reactions to the finale, which might reduce excitement, but also because spin-offs rarely match the success of their original shows. We’ve seen this before – House of the Dragon didn’t generate the same buzz as Game of Thrones, Better Call Saul didn’t have the same widespread hype as later seasons of Breaking Bad, The Witcher‘s spin-offs didn’t perform well, and The Book of Boba Fett and Ahsoka didn’t reach the heights of The Mandalorian.

It doesn’t always happen this way, and we’ve seen shows prove it. However, with so many streaming options now, creating a massive hit like Stranger Things is incredibly challenging. It’s tough to do, particularly without established characters, which is why Netflix’s next big success will probably look quite different.

You can watch all five seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix right now. A new Harry Potter movie series is planned to start releasing in 2027.

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2026-01-06 22:40