It’s only been about four months since the Stranger Things series finale, but the iconic franchise returns to streaming this week. If you think it’s a new episode from season 5, think again. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, an animated spin-off series, premieres on April 23, 2026, on Netflix in the U.S.
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is a new addition to the Stranger Things universe at Netflix. For starters, it’s the first animated spin-off show of the flagship series. More importantly, it’s a test of whether audiences are ready to see these beloved characters in a new adventure, albeit an animated show. Is it too soon for another Stranger Things show? Like all of you, I’m ready to find out for myself.
What is Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 about?
Head back to Hawkins in the 1980s
One of the reasons for Stranger Things’ breakout success revolves around nostalgia for the 1980s. The show captured the sights and sounds of pop culture in the 1980s—from Ghostbusters and E.T. to The Police and The Clash. The animated spin-off will channel those same evocative feelings by setting the story in 1985.
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 takes place in the winter of 1985. The events will take place between season 2 and season 3 of the live-action show. In the season 2 finale, Eleven and the gang closed the gate to the Upside Down inside the Hawkins Lab. At least that’s what we thought because the final scene of the season features the Mind Flayer observing the group at the school dance.
Before the group faces the Mind Flayer at the Starcourt Mall, they must first battle a new creature beneath the snow in Hawkins. What is it? Showrunner Eric Robles described it as a famous creature in one of the best shark movies of all time, Jaws.
“I grew up watching [that movie], and we play with the same trope in the sense [that] underneath all that snow, there’s something lurking, and you just never know where that thing’s going to come out and grab you,” Robles explained to Tudum.
Who is in the cast of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85?
Same characters, different voices
For fans wanting to see Eleven and the gang one more time, your wish has come true. Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 will feature the characters fans have come to know and love over the past decade. This includes Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Max, Will, Hopper, Steve, and more.
However, the animated characters will not be voiced by Netflix’s live-action cast. This means that Millie Bobby Brown nor David Harbour will not be voicing Eleven and Hopper, respectively. The same can be said for the rest of the notable characters.
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Android TV
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4K
The cast of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 includes Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala as Will, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Brett Gipson as Hopper, Jeremy Jordan as Steve, Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxter, Janeane Garofalo as Anna Baxter, Alessandra Antonelli as Nancy Wheeler, Alysia Reiner as Karen Wheeler, Valeria Rodriguez as Rosario, Jack Griffo as Jeff, Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel Fischer, and Robert Englund as Cosmo.
A notable addition is A’zion as Nikki Baxter, the punk rocker of the crew. Sporting a pink-haired fauxhawk, Nikki is the new friend in town who becomes the “barbarian and the protector,” according to a Netflix interview with A’zion.
Are the Duffer Brothers involved?
The Stranger Things creators will have a role in the spin-off
The Duffer Brothers changed the course of Netflix’s history with their creation, Stranger Things, which became the streamer’s flagship show. The Duffers are executive producers on Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. However, the Duffers are not the showrunners on the animated show. That role belongs to Robles.
While speaking with Netflix, the Duffers revealed their inspiration behind the animated spin-off.
“The idea was to kind of evoke a feeling of an ’80s cartoon,” the Duffers said in the official announcement. “With animation, there’s really no limits. Eric [Robles] and his team can just go wild. And they have.”
Shawn Levy, who directed multiple episodes of Stranger Things, is also an executive producer on Tales from ’85 alongside Dan Cohen.
Are more spin-offs on the way?
The mysterious live-action spin-off remains in development
Even though the Duffers are leaving Netflix to make movies and TV for Paramount, the duo are still going to deliver a Stranger Things live-action spin-off. The Duffers have revealed little about the live-action spin-off to this point. The only clue (via Variety) is that it will deal with the origins of the rock Henry Creel found in the briefcase in the series finale.
“The spin-off is going to delve into that [the rock] and explain that, and you’re going to understand it,” Matt Duffer told Variety. “But it’s a completely different mythology. So it’s not a deep exploration of the Mind Flayer or anything like that. It’s very fresh and very new, but yes, it will answer some of the loose threads that are remaining.”
Speaking of other productions, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, a play about the origins of Henry Creel, is being filmed for Netflix. The show is currently on Broadway and in the West End. It’s unknown when The First Shadow will hit Netflix.
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 streaming information
All 10 episodes of Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 arrive on Netflix on April 23. Only one season has been planned. Given the popularity of Stranger Things, keep an eye on the viewership numbers. If the ratings are strong, I could see Netflix wanting another season of this animated show.
- Subscription with ads
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Yes, $8/month
- Simultaneous streams
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Two or four
Stephan is the sports journalist for the Maple Grove Report.
