Netflix is about to lose its greatest money-printing popular culture franchise when “Stranger Issues” lastly involves an finish on New Years’ Eve, however do not depend out the streamer simply but. On the one hand, there’s Netflix’s greatest shock hit of the 12 months, “KPop Demon Hunters,” which is now increasing right into a franchise with a sequel and reported talks of additional spin-offs. However, even when the principle “Stranger Issues” collection is coming to an finish, that is not going to be the tip of Hawkins.
Certainly, the streamer has solely simply revealed the primary have a look at “Stranger Issues: Tales From ’85,” an animated spin-off prequel collection set between seasons 2 and three and full of recent monsters, mysteries, and your favourite “Stranger Issues” characters. Created by Eric Robles, the present continues to be being govt produced by the Duffer brothers, although it is not going to embrace any of the live-action “Stranger Issues” actors. As an alternative, Brooklyn Davey Norstedt is taking part in Eleven, with Jolie Hoang-Rappaport voicing Max, Luca Diaz portraying Mike, Elisha Williams voicing Lucas, Braxton Quinney taking up as Dustin, Ben Plessala bringing Will to life, and Brett Gipson serving as your new Hopper.
Within the present’s announcement video (see above), the Duffers talk about eager to make their very own ’80s cartoon with “Tales From ’85.” Equally, at a presentation earlier this 12 months on the Annecy Animation Movie Pageant, Robles cited “The Actual Ghostbusters” and the animated “Beetlejuice” collection because the foundations on which this present’s strategy and nostalgic really feel have been constructed. Sadly, very like these collection, “Tales From ’85” additionally looks like a lesser model of the factor that impressed it, from the absence of the unique forged to its unflattering look and its story’s lack of urgency. Regardless, Netflix now has a strategy to preserve “Stranger Issues” alive perpetually.
Stranger Issues: Tales From ’85 is a part of an extended and semi-honored custom
Maybe essentially the most curious selection made right here includes having “Stranger Issues: Tales From ’85” happen between the occasions of “Stranger Issues” seasons 2 and three — some extent at which most of the collection’ most beloved dynamics and relationships hadn’t been totally established. As an illustration, Robin (who’s performed by Maya Hawke in live-action) may doubtlessly present up, however she positively will not be part of the core group.
Nonetheless, that won’t matter to Netflix, seeing as “Tales From ’85” provides it a strategy to preserve the “Stranger Issues” franchise going for an extended, very long time. We’re speaking on the extent with “The Simpsons” and principally every other long-lived cartoon sitcom. Certain, the present has “’85” within the title, however that does not imply will probably be restricted to a single season. As an alternative, it may pull a “Phineas and Ferb” and have its motion happen throughout a single summer time (or winter, on this case) advert infinitum, with every season being a brand new journey that one way or the other takes place in the identical two-month span.
“Stranger Issues” is not the primary big-hit property to provide rise to a nonsensical cartoon spin-off, after all. This was a quite common factor within the Nineteen Eighties and ’90s, with even violent, rated-R motion pictures like “RoboCop” and “First Blood” one way or the other being become kid-friendly animated collection. The development did not even cease there, both, as Netflix has already kind of revived that custom within the final decade with cartoon spin-offs of “Jurassic World” and even the “Quick & Livid” franchise (regardless of them being very a lot not for kids, at the least within the latter’s case). That is simply the newest instance, nevertheless it will not be the final.
“Stranger Issues: Tales From ’85” premieres on Netflix in 2026.
