After nearly a decade of Demogorgons, psychic powers, and small-town terror, Stranger Things has officially reached its end. And yet, in today’s streaming landscape, an ending rarely means goodbye. For a cultural phenomenon as massive as Netflix’s sci-fi juggernaut, expansion was almost inevitable.

The Stranger Things universe is now officially growing. Netflix has confirmed multiple spin-offs, with at least one additional project quietly teased behind the scenes. Whether these successors can live up to the original is a different question altogether—but fans are watching closely.

With record-breaking viewership, over 250 major award nominations, and near-universal critical acclaim across all seasons, the bar has been set incredibly high. Matching that legacy won’t be easy. Still, spin-offs don’t have to replace the original to succeed. If done right, they can deepen the mythology instead of diluting it.

Here’s a complete breakdown of every Stranger Things spin-off currently confirmed—or heavily rumored—to be in development.

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85

Release Date 2026

Netflix offered fans their first official glimpse at Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 in late 2025, marking the franchise’s first animated expansion. The show is set in Hawkins during the winter of 1985, placing it squarely between Seasons 2 and 3 of the main series.

The familiar group, Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, and Max, returns once again, but this time in animated form. The story centers on a brand-new supernatural mystery, complete with fresh Upside Down creatures that threaten Hawkins while the kids attempt to save the day (again).

However, this spin-off isn’t aiming for the same horror-heavy tone that defined later seasons of the original show. According to the Duffer Brothers, Tales from ’85 is designed to feel like a classic 1980s Saturday-morning cartoon. Think adventurous, colorful, and funrather than dark and disturbing.

That creative direction means longtime fans should expect lighter stakes, minimal scares, and a more family-friendly atmosphere. On the plus side, animation freezes the characters in time, allowing fans to revisit the younger versions of the kids many viewers fell in love with during the show’s early seasons.

The series is led by Eric Robles, known for his work on animated projects like Fanboy & Chum Chum, with the Duffers acting as executive producers. The creative team has drawn inspiration from iconic ’80s cartoons such as Scooby-Doo, He-Man, and The Real Ghostbusters. Creature designs are also expected to be a highlight, with acclaimed designer Carlos Huante involved in bringing the monsters to life.

Untitled Stranger Things Spin-Off

Release Date Unknown

For fans ready to move beyond Hawkins altogether, Netflix has another ambitious project in the works: a live-action spin-off set in a completely different time period and location.

The Duffer Brothers have confirmed that this series will introduce an entirely new cast of characters and unfold in a different decade while still remaining connected to the Upside Down mythology. In other words, this isn’t a sequel or continuation of the original story. It’s a fresh entry point into the universe.

Matt Duffer described the project as a “clean slate,” emphasizing that new viewers won’t need extensive knowledge of Stranger Things to follow the story. That makes this spin-off potentially more accessible than any project before it.

Intriguingly, the brothers have teased that the mysterious rock briefly seen in Henry Creel’s possession during the finale could be connected to this spin-off. When pressed for details, Matt Duffer only described it as “very spin-off-y,” leaving fans to speculate wildly.

That said, the Duffer Brothers won’t be as hands-on this time around. While they remain creatively involved, much of the day-to-day production will be handled by other creators due to their broader development deal elsewhere. Whether the tone and emotional depth remain intact without their full-time involvement remains to be seen.

The Mystery Stranger Things Project

Status: Secret

Beyond the animated series and the confirmed live-action spin-off, the Duffers have repeatedly hinted at a third Stranger Things project one they’re not quite ready to talk about.

According to them, this mystery series is fundamentally different from what fans might expect. It reportedly doesn’t rely heavily on the existing mythology and instead builds something entirely new from the ground up. The creative freedom, they’ve said, has been both exciting and refreshing.

The only concrete detail? Netflix is keeping it tightly under wraps.

Interestingly, back in 2022, reports surfaced about an anime spin-off titled Stranger Things: Tokyo. The rumored series would have followed twin brothers in 1980s Japan whose lives spiral after encountering the Upside Down. Netflix never officially confirmed or denied the project, and no updates have emerged since.

It’s entirely possible that this long-rumored anime concept has evolved into or been replaced by the mystery project the Duffers continue to tease.

Spin-offs rarely capture the magic of their parent series, but exceptions do exist. If Netflix approaches these projects with restraint and strong creative vision, the Stranger Things universe could evolve rather than collapse under its own success.