Now that the fifth and final season has finally concluded on Netflix, Stranger Things is no longer just a live-action series—it’s a multimedia franchise not unlike Star Wars. Although the sci-fi franchise has been churning out tie-in content since it arrived in 2016, from comics to novels, mobile games to VR titles, and immersive experiences to stage plays.
Comparing it to Star Wars seems more than fair. Sure, Stranger Things is only nine years old, whereas the faraway galaxy has been around since 1977, but it’s fair to say that Hawkins and the Upside Down have caught up and then some. And Netflix’s next installment, Tales From ’85, set to debut later this year, will underscore that comparison.
Set between seasons 2 and 3, the series will bring even more depth to Hawkins’ and the Upside Down’s mythology while expanding the brand into animation, much like The Clone Wars. The upcoming 3D animated series follows all the familiar characters, now voiced by a new cast, through events that bridge the gap between the two live-action seasons.
But not only is Tales From ’85 similar to The Clone Wars in terms of being set between two chapters (which happen to be the second and the third for both), the visual format and style have also drawn comparisons from fans. Although, with that said, Flying Bark Productions is behind the upcoming Stranger Things series — not Lucasfilm Animation.
With its new cast and franchise-centric storytelling, Tales From ’85 promises to deliver a must-watch experience for longtime fans, reinforcing Stranger Things as one of Netflix’s most enduring and expansive properties.
The Star Wars series successfully explored the previously unexplored gap between the two prequel trilogy films, Attack of the Clones (2002) and Revenge of the Sith (2005), while also enriching the overall trilogy. Can Stranger Things do the same? Only time will tell.
Related: ‘Stranger Things’ Getting More Kid-Friendly Makeover as Main Series Winds Down
Tales From ’85 will premiere on Netflix later this year. Stranger Things seasons 1 — 5 are now streaming.
Stranger Things Season 5 stars Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Winona Ryder (Joyce Byers), David Harbour (Jim Hopper), Joe Keery (Steve Harrington), Natalia Dyer (Nancy Wheeler), Maya Hawke (Robin Buckley), Charlie Heaton (Jonathan Byers), Brett Gelman (Murray Bauman), Nell Fisher (Holly Wheeler), Priah Ferguson (Erica Sinclair), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield), Jamie Campbell Bower (Vecna/Henry Creel), Cara Buono (Karen Wheeler), and Linda Hamilton (Dr. Kay).
Are you excited about Stranger Things: Tales From ’85? Let us know in the comments down below!
