Netflix has exciting news for fans of the beloved series Stranger Things, announcing that a new animated series titled Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is set to premiere in 2026. This announcement came on Thursday, coinciding with Stranger Things Day, a date significant to fans as it marks the day Will Byers mysteriously vanished from Hawkins, Indiana, on November 6, 1983.
Set against the backdrop of winter in 1985, the animated series will bring back familiar characters as they face new monsters and unravel a chilling paranormal mystery haunting their town. Netflix hinted at the nostalgic appeal of the show, stating, “Welcome back to Hawkins,” and emphasizing its January release.
Eric Robles is on board as the showrunner and executive producer, collaborating with the original creators Matt and Ross Duffer and Hilary Leavitt through Upside Down Pictures, along with Shawn Levy of 21 Laps and Dan Cohen. Matt Duffer described their vision for the series as evoking the feel of an ’80s cartoon, while Robles expressed excitement about capturing the magic of Hawkins in a fresh new format.
The animated show will feature a talented voice cast, including Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Ej Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Ben Plessala as Will, and Brett Gipson as Hopper. The voice cast will also include notable names such as Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips.
Interestingly, the plot of the animated series will take place between the second and third seasons of the original series, providing viewers with new stories and adventures. Although the original Stranger Things is concluding with its highly anticipated final season, which will be released in three parts around holiday weekends, the Duffer brothers have teased that there are still more stories from the Stranger Things universe in development. Matt noted, “There are more Stranger Things stories to tell and in the works,” reassuring fans that future projects will uphold the high-quality standard associated with the franchise and deliver creative and original content.
As the Stranger Things universe continues to expand, anticipation grows for both the final season of the original series and the new animated adventures that await viewers in 2026.