New Heroes Emerge in 1955 as Stranger Things Expands Its Legacy

Netflix has officially ordered a prequel series to Stranger Things, with production set to begin in New Mexico and a premiere scheduled for 2028. The project, titled Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure, becomes the fourth major installment in the franchise. The announcement landed on November 6, a date fans have designated as Stranger Things Day to mark the 1983 disappearance of character Will Byers.

The series is confirmed to be set in 1955 in Marion, Nevada. This timeline precedes the original live action series, which concluded in late 2025, and the stage play First Shadow. A teaser video released with the news established the specific location. The Duffer brothers previously indicated that the story would examine the period before Henry Creel, also known as Vecna, encountered the substance that gave him his powers. Early reports of this spinoff first appeared in 2022, indicating a multi-year development process.

Kate Trefry, a writer on the original series and creator of First Shadow, is co-creating the show with Matt and Ross Duffer. She will serve as showrunner and executive producer. Director Joe Wright, whose work the Duffers have admired, will direct the first three episodes and hold an executive producing role. The Duffer brothers are executive producing under their Upside Down Pictures banner, a carve out of their current deal with Paramount.

Shawn Levy of 21 Laps, Paul Dichter, Shelley Meals, Andrea Sperling, and Pavlina Hatoupis are also listed as executive producers. The production team is assembling for a shoot in New Mexico. The Duffers described the project as thrillingly fresh, noting it features new heroes, new villains, and unannounced elements. They expressed gratitude for Trefry’s long involvement with the franchise since Season 2 and Wright’s artistic vision.

Trefry stated that the Duffer brothers gave her her first paying job in Hollywood. She described the process as an honor, citing support from Netflix and 21 Laps. She hopes the story will explore further mysteries while retaining the horror, wonder, and mystery of the flagship series.

Jinny Howe, Netflix Head of Scripted Series for US and Canada, said the franchise has always belonged to its dedicated fan base. She noted that audience passion helped make the show a worldwide phenomenon. Howe expressed pride in partnering with the creative team to introduce a new dimension of the universe that takes viewers back to the 1950s with fresh characters and familiar themes.

Shawn Levy added that the team at 21 Laps is thrilled to continue the storytelling legacy. He described the new ensemble as being imbued with the DNA of the original series while exploring a new era. Levy noted that while the seeds of the mythology were planted in Hawkins, the story now ventures into new worlds of spectacle, action, and emotion.