‘Stranger Things’ has ended but Netflix is already planning what comes next

Stranger Things may have wrapped its main story, but Netflix is not finished with the franchise.

The fifth season marked the official end of the Duffer Brothers’ hit series, closing the chapter on Hawkins and its central characters. However, Netflix has confirmed that a new animated spin-off set within the Stranger Things universe is currently in development.

The upcoming project will not continue the events of the original show or feature the core cast. Instead, it is expected to explore a separate corner of the series’ mythology, expanding the world without revisiting Eleven’s arc or altering the finale.

While plot details remain under wraps, the animated spin-off is expected to launch later this year and will exist independently of the live-action series, with no crossover planned.

A final behind-the-scenes farewell

In addition to the spin-off, Netflix will release a behind-the-scenes documentary titled One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5 on 12 January 2026.

The feature-length documentary will offer an in-depth look at the making of the final season, including exclusive footage and interviews with the cast and creators as they reflect on bringing the series to an end.

For now, the only other new content tied to the show comes in the form of a rewatch podcast hosted by cast members, including Noah Schnapp, which focuses on behind-the-scenes memories rather than new storylines.

Despite ongoing fan speculation, Netflix and the Duffer Brothers have been clear that the fifth season was always intended to be the final chapter of the main narrative. There are currently no plans for additional live-action episodes.

While Stranger Things as audiences know it has ended, Netflix’s continued investment in the franchise makes it clear that its world is far from finished.

Aasiya Niaz