With Stranger Things officially over after five seasons, one of the biggest questions hanging over the franchise is a simple one: when — if ever — will fans see these characters again? The Hawkins crew has been part of pop culture for nearly a decade, and the emotional weight of the series finale has left many viewers assuming that this is truly the end of the road for Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, and Will. But as it turns out, it isn’t.
Netflix has already confirmed that the Hawkins heroes will be back in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, a brand-new animated series that brings the show’s core ensemble back together once more. Set during the winter of 1985, the series takes place between seasons 2 and 3, allowing the story to revisit a period of the timeline fans already know — but with an entirely new adventure layered into it: new adventures, and new monsters.
An official featurette dropped late last year, which you can watch below. It’s not a trailer, but we do get a few good looks at the show and the 3D animation style, which is heavily inspired by the Spider-Verse films and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem:
Related: New ‘Stranger Things’ Experience Has Officially Launched | Disney Dining
Tales From ’85 will feature Eleven, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Mike at the center of the story, facing new threats emerging from the Upside Down. While the live-action series has concluded, the adventures of these beloved characters will continue. However, it comes with a catch: the likes of Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard won’t be returning — instead, there’s a new voice cast that’s already been confirmed.
Still, the familiar dynamics remain intact, with the story focused squarely on the same group that anchored the Netflix phenomenon from the very beginning.
The Duffer Brothers have described the series as being heavily influenced by classic ’80s Saturday morning cartoons, with showrunner and executive producer Eric Robles pointing to The Real Ghostbusters as the creative “north star.”
For fans worried that Season 5 marked the last time they’d spend meaningful time with these characters, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 offers reassurance. The Upside Down may have been closed — at least for now — but Hawkins’ heroes aren’t done just yet.
Tales From ’85 will premiere on Netflix later this year.
Are you excited about Stranger Things: Tales From ’85? Let us know in the comments down below!
