Liputan6.com, Jakarta - The American science fiction television series Stranger Things, created by the Duffer Brothers for Netflix, has officially ended its epic run.
The first season of the series was first released on July 15, 2016, immediately attracting global attention with its deep narrative and compelling characters.
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Set in the fictional rural town of Hawkins, Indiana, in the 1980s, Stranger Things is known for its unique blend of horror, science fiction, mystery and coming-of-age drama elements.
The fifth and final season of Stranger Things premiered in three parts in November and December 2025, with the highly anticipated final episode releasing on December 31, 2025.
This final episode, titled 'The Rightside Up', marks the conclusion of the main story that has spanned nearly a decade.
New Beginning for the Universe
With the main story ending, the Duffer Brothers, the creators behind Stranger Things, have confirmed that the fifth season is the final chapter of the original story.
They have consistently stated that their goal is to provide a definitive ending and do not want the series to "run out of gas" or lose its appeal.
However, Netflix has several spinoff projects in development, aiming to expand the mythology and story beyond Hawkins.
The two main known spin-off projects are an animated series and an untitled live-action series.
“With animation, there’s really no limits,” Ross told Tudum.
"And it’s nice, because the kids can stay young forever,” Matt told Variety. The show will premiere later this year and feature an entirely new cast voicing the beloved characters.
Animated Series: Stranger Things: Tales From '85
Netflix has officially announced the development of a new animated series entitled "Stranger Things: Tales From '85".
The series will take viewers back to Hawkins, set in the winter of 1985, between Season 2 and Season 3 of the original series.
The official logline promises that "original characters must fight new monsters and uncover the paranormal mystery terrorizing their town," offering a familiar yet fresh adventure.
"Tales From '85" is expected to serve as a companion to the live-action series, expanding the Hawkins mythology with a light-hearted and retro tone.
The visual style is said to be similar to the Netflix series "Arcane", promising high animation quality and an attractive aesthetic.
Eric Robles will serve as showrunner, with Matt and Ross Duffer as co-creators, ensuring that the project remains true to the original vision.
Although familiar characters will appear, actors from the live-action series will not voice their characters in "Tales From '85."
A new voice cast has been cast, including 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.
The Duffer Brothers explained that with animation, "there are no limits" and children can "stay young forever," allowing for broader exploration of the story.
The animated series "Stranger Things: Tales From '85" is expected to premiere in 2026.
Mysterious Live-Action Spinoff: Clues from the Season 5 Finale
In addition to the animated series, Netflix is also developing an unnamed live-action spinoff whose details are still being kept under wraps.
The project will feature an entirely new cast and characters, set in a different decade and location than the original series.
The Duffer Brothers have stated that this spin-off will not be a direct continuation of the original characters' stories, or center on the Upside Down, Vecna, or Mind Flayer, but will instead be a "blank slate" that allows for greater creative freedom.
The Duffer Brothers wanted to avoid "Star Wars-style" expansions that relied too heavily on existing characters or timelines, as they believed that approach would limit creative freedom.
The final episode of Stranger Things Season 5 did contain a "small scene" that was believed to provide a clue about this spin-off.
The clue refers to "Montauk", an early concept for Stranger Things that was set in Montauk, New York, and involved government experiments.
However, the Duffer Brothers later clarified that the Montauk reference was more of an "Easter egg" for die-hard fans and not a direct indication of the location of the spin-off, which will have a new and smaller mythology.
The live-action spinoff is still in the "very early" stages of development, and a release date is unclear.
However, with an emphasis on "new mythology" and a "blank slate," the spinoff promises a truly fresh experience for fans.