Key Takeaways
- A Stranger Things spinoff is officially in development as the original series comes to an end.
- The new show will feature an entirely different cast, story, and location.
- The Duffer brothers say the spinoff will retain the spirit of Stranger Things while starting fresh.
- Finn Wolfhard is the only cast member who has correctly guessed what the spinoff will be about.
After nearly a decade and five seasons, Stranger Things is preparing to close one chapter — but the story of its universe is far from over. While the hit Netflix series is ending, creators Ross and Matt Duffer have confirmed that a Stranger Things spinoff is currently in the works.
Though the Duffer brothers have been careful not to reveal too many details, they’ve shared enough to give fans a general idea of what to expect — and what not to expect — from the next chapter.
Will the Original Cast Return?
For fans hoping to see familiar faces, the answer is a definitive no. According to Matt Duffer, the upcoming spinoff will not include characters from the original series.
“It relates in some ways,” Duffer told ScreenRant, “but it really is a completely different story and a completely different location with completely different actors and characters. It’s really its own entity.”
That means no Hawkins crew — at least for now — as the spinoff aims to stand on its own.
What the Spinoff Will Be About
While the series won’t follow Eleven, Mike, or the rest of the gang, the Duffers insist the show will still feel unmistakably Stranger Things. Speaking to Variety, Matt Duffer explained that the spinoff will return to the core elements that made the original series successful.
The focus will once again be on kids, adventure, and sci-fi/fantasy storytelling, rather than expanding the already complex mythology of the Upside Down.
“You’re starting with new characters — it’s like a clean slate,” he said. “You’re not tied up in knots. There’s something refreshing about it.”
The Duffer brothers will remain involved behind the scenes, helping guide the project, though they will not serve as showrunners due to their new deal with Paramount.
The One Cast Member Who Figured It Out
Despite the secrecy surrounding the project, one Stranger Things star managed to crack the code. According to Ross Duffer, Finn Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler, is the only cast member to correctly guess what the spinoff will revolve around.
“Nobody — not Netflix, not the producers, not the directors, not the actors — nobody else has figured out what the spinoff is,” Ross Duffer told Variety. “Finn figured it out, which is pretty remarkable. We’ve mind-melded with this kid a bit.”
While Wolfhard has shared his own speculation publicly — even comparing the concept to another cult-favorite series — the Duffers are still keeping the official details under wraps.
A New Era for the Stranger Things Universe
As Stranger Things prepares to say goodbye, the spinoff represents a fresh start rather than a continuation. With new characters, a new setting, and a familiar tone, the Duffers hope to expand the universe without losing what made it special in the first place.
For now, fans will have to wait patiently — but one thing is clear: the world of Stranger Things isn’t disappearing anytime soon.
