The main story of Stranger Things may have come to an end on Netflix last year, but the franchise is far from finished. Netflix has now released the first trailer for a brand new animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, which keeps the world of Hawkins alive with a new adventure set to release later this year.
The original Stranger Things series ended after five seasons and a massive finale. Nevertheless, both fans and creators felt that there were still corners of this universe to be discovered. That feeling clearly stuck with the Duffer Brothers, who are helping to take this animated spin-off in a new and playful direction.
Plot and timeline of Stranger Things: Tales From ’85
Netflix has confirmed that Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 will debut on April 23, 2026, and the newly released trailer offers the first real glimpse of what’s to come.
Set between Seasons 2 and 3 of the original series, Tales From ’85 brings the familiar gang back together, but changes the tone and format along the way. The animated series revisits Hawkins in the winter of 1985, where the children are drawn into another paranormal mystery that threatens their town.
“When we started talking about doing something else with Stranger Things, this was one of our first ideas,” said Ross Duffer. According to Duffer Brothers, the show’s animation gives them the freedom to move on to bigger threats, stranger creatures and a different sense of scale while keeping the emotional core intact.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 voice cast details
Even though the characters look and sound a little different, the show’s creators assure that the core of Stranger Things is still there, mixing childhood adventures with real dangers and high stakes.
The spin-off also introduces an entirely new voice cast. Brooklyn Davey Norstedt voices Eleven, with Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala as Will and Brett Gipson as Hopper. Jeremy Jordan stars as Steve, alongside Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo and Lou Diamond Phillips in other roles.
With the release date set and the first trailer now out, Tales From ’85 appears to be giving fans another reason to return to Hawkins and see what new troubles await them. If you’re looking for something to watch while you wait, here are some TV shows with a similar Stranger Things twist that are worth checking out.
