Netflix reveals Stranger Things: Tales from '85 trailer

Netflix has officially pulled back the curtain on the next chapter of the Hawkins saga, releasing the first full trailer for its highly anticipated animated spinoff, Stranger Things: Tales from '85. The streaming giant confirmed on Monday that the new series will premiere globally on April 23, 2026, marking the franchise's first major expansion following the conclusion of the flagship live-action series last year.

Set during the winter of 1985, the narrative occupies the chronological gap between the second and third seasons of the original show. While the town of Hawkins appears to be enjoying a rare moment of peace following the closure of the Gate, the trailer suggests that a sinister presence has remained dormant beneath the frozen landscape. The story follows the core group of friends, Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max as they navigate the social pressures of mid-80s adolescence while investigating a new paranormal threat that showrunners describe as "lore-changing."

The production features a fresh ensemble of voice talent taking over the iconic roles. Brooklyn Davey Norstedt leads the cast as Eleven, joined by Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield. In a notable casting update, Broadway veteran Jeremy Jordan has been confirmed as the voice of Steve Harrington. The series also introduces a pivotal new character named Nikki, a pink-haired teenager whose unique technical skills become essential as the group encounters never-before-seen entities, including a mutated "pumpkin monster" and various vine-like abominations.

Executive produced by Matt and Ross Duffer alongside Shawn Levy, the project aims to capture the aesthetic of classic Saturday morning cartoons while maintaining the high stakes horror that defined the original series. Showrunner Eric Robles emphasized that the animated medium allows the creative team to explore "untold adventures" that were previously constrained by the timeline of the live-action show. Robles noted that while the visual style is vibrant, the danger facing the characters remains tangible and terrifying.

Produced by Flying Bark Productions, the twelve-episode season is expected to bridge narrative gaps and offer deeper insight into the group’s dynamics before the climactic events of the later live-action seasons. With the flagship series having wrapped up its final season in late 2025, Tales from '85 serves as the foundational pillar for a broader Stranger Things cinematic universe currently in development at Netflix.