Stranger Things Prequel Announced: Everything We Know About Other Worlds
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This new spin-off series is set nearly three decades before the events of Stranger Things
In case you’re still mourning the end of Stranger Things, there is finally reason to rejoice, as Netflix has officially confirmed that there’s a new prequel in the works. Here’s everything we know about Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure.
Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure Plot & Release Date
Tina Rowden/Netflix © 2022
It seems there’s nothing streamers love more than pre-existing IP. When a beloved series has reached its natural conclusion, the only scheme almost guaranteed to pump in more profit is making more of it. We already have House of the Dragon, the Game of Thrones prequel, and Rings of Power, the Lord of the Rings prequel, streaming on HBO and Prime Video, respectively. So it was only a matter of time before Netflix was going to milk its most recently deceased cash cow, Stranger Things, for more.
Since debuting in 2016, Stranger Things has garnered more than 1.2 billion views across seasons 1–4, whilst seasons 4 and 5 are among the streamer’s most popular TV seasons of all time. Since the finale, the Stranger Things universe has already been expanded into an animated series (Stranger Things: Tales From ’85), an immersive expeirence, and a West End show, set to transfer to Broadway on 3 January 2027.
The play, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, is set in Hawkins, Indiana (the fictional town where Stranger Things is based) in 1959 and explores the backstory for Henry Creel (who later becomes series villain Vecna). The production follows him as a teenager, and provides backstories for other characters in the series – including Jim Hopper, Joyce Maldonado (Byers), and Bob Newby. We see Vecna’s first encounters with the other dimension and explains the roots of Dr. Martin Brenner’s experiments at Hawkins National Laboratory.
What’s Other Worlds About?
Unlike the original Stranger Things series, this new spin-off will be set in the fictional town of Marion, Nevada, in 1955 – nearly three decades prior to the events of Stranger Things season 1 (1983), and four years before the events of Stranger Things: The First Shadow (1959).
Though we don’t yet have any news about the plot, you can get a taste of the action in the teaser trailer below.
The showrunner of this new prequel series will be Kate Trefry, who worked with Stranger Things showrunners the Duffer brothers on the original series and the stage production, The First Shadow. ‘The Duffer Brothers gave me my first paying job in Hollywood, and it has been a joy and a fever dream ever since,’ said Trefry. ‘Now, it is my insane honor and privilege to be bringing this new chapter of Stranger Things to life alongside them and our incredible director, Joe Wright. With the support of Netflix and 21 Laps, we have had the time of our lives returning to all the horror, wonder and mystery of the flagship, while also telling a wholly new story, one we hope will blow your minds and break your hearts all over again. There are so many more mysteries to explore. Welcome to Other Worlds.’
(L to R) Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler, Charlie Heaton as Jonathan Byers, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, David Harbour as Jim Hopper, and Winona Ryder as Joyce Byers in STRANGER THINGS. (Courtesy of Netflix © 2022)
Netflix has confirmed that the Duffer Brothers – showrunners of the original Stranger Things – will be returning to the series as executive producers. ‘We’ve been dreaming of Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure for many years now, and to see it become a reality is surreal and exhilarating,’ said Matt and Ross Duffer. ‘It’s Stranger Things, but also thrillingly fresh, with a new setting, new heroes and villains, and new … actually, we’re not allowed to say any more. Now, on to casting. In the meantime – watch the skies, nerds!’
Release Date
Though we don’t yet have an exact release date, the teaser trailer confirms that Other Worlds is aiming for a 2028 release.
You can watch all five seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix now.
