After years of anticipation, Stranger Things ended on December 31 with its Season 5 finale “The Rightside Up” dual‑premiering on Netflix and in theaters across the U.S. and Canada.
The epic conclusion marked the end of the live‑action series, but the finale’s reception, and the season as a whole, was mixed to say the least. Online petitions circulated demanding new cuts of the season or the final episode, and a viral “fake ending” theory dubbed “Conformity Gate” had many convinced Netflix would drop an alternate conclusion after the finale aired.
Credit: Netflix
More Stranger Things Is Coming
Neither came to pass, and overall reaction to Season 5 was mixed, with longtime viewers divided on storytelling directions, plot convenience, character outcomes, and overall pacing.
But despite the backlash and internet theories that ultimately proved false, the Stranger Things universe isn’t done expanding. Netflix has already confirmed that the franchise will continue, starting with a new 3D animated series titled Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.
Credit: Flying Bark Productions / Upside Down Pictures / 21 Laps Entertainment / Netflix
Several Characters Will Return
The upcoming spinoff moves the storytelling into a different medium while still preserving the heart of the show’s early years. The series is set during the winter of 1985, between seasons 2 and 3 of the main show — a window that allows several main characters to return.
Tales From ’85 brings back Eleven/Jane Hopper, Mike Wheeler, Lucas Sinclair, Dustin Henderson, Will Byers, Max Mayfield, and Jim Hopper — but with an all-new voice cast.
Credit: Flying Bark Productions / Upside Down Pictures / 21 Laps Entertainment / Netflix
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ Eleven Will Return Following Season 5 Exit, Netflix Confirms
The New Stranger Things Cast
The series stars Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang‑Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Ben Plessala as Will, and Brett Gipson as Hopper. Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips are also among the cast in undisclosed roles.
However, while the series features several beloved characters and connects to the broader Stranger Things timeline, Tales From ’85 will also introduce new monsters, mysteries, and situations that were never mentioned in the flagship series from Season 3 onward.
So how it will fit in without breaking continuity remains to be seen, but either way, the existence of this spinoff alone means rewriting a story that has already been told.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 will premiere on Netflix this year. Watch the trailer below:
Stranger Things Seasons 1 — 5
Stranger Things seasons 1 — 5 are streaming on Netflix.
Stranger Things Season 5 stars Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Brett Gelman (Murray Bauman), Nell Fisher (Holly Wheeler), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna/Henry Creel), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), and Linda Hamilton (Dr. Kay).
Are you excited about Stranger Things: Tales From ’85? Let us know in the comments!
