Stranger Things Is Ending — But the Spin-off Could Be Years Away

Stranger Things is wrapping up with Season 5, and yes, a spin-off is in the works. But if you were hoping it would swoop right in as the main show bows out, I would not hold my breath.

So where is this spin-off, exactly?

In a new Variety profile, creators Matt and Ross Duffer basically said: slow your roll. There is no release date, no production start, and not even a public logline to chew on. The concept is locked down so tightly that even Shawn Levy — who has directed and executive produced a bunch of Stranger Things — isn’t in the loop. He joked about what to call the larger brand and tossed out the half-kidding label "STU," then immediately clocked that people would run with it.

As for what the show actually is, Matt Duffer did clarify two things: they’re not interested in bloating Stranger Things into some overcomplicated lore maze after Season 5, and the spin-off will live in its own space while still tying back to the mothership in some way. Think related DNA, not a direct extension.

Netflix is eager, but waiting

"Netflix has been surprisingly patient," Matt said, adding that with the flagship ending, he can feel that patience thinning a bit — but the streamer is still understanding.

Netflix chief content officer Bela Bajaria backed that up and confirmed there’s no start date on the books. Her stance is pretty simple: they want more Stranger Things when the creators are ready to deliver it.

The Duffers’ next chapter complicates the timeline (a little)

One wrinkle: the Duffer Brothers just signed a big new overall deal with Paramount, which ends their overall at Netflix. That sounds messy, but here’s the clean version: they’ll still be deeply involved in the Stranger Things spin-off creatively — just not as showrunners. In the meantime, Ross says they hope to write and direct something new while also helping guide the spin-off from the sidelines.

What we actually know right now

• Stranger Things Season 5 is the last season of the main show.
• The first four episodes drop globally on Netflix on November 26, 2025.
• The spin-off exists, but has no revealed plot, production start, or release window.
• It won’t expand the mythology into something unwieldy; it’s set in a different world with connective ties to the original series.
• Shawn Levy hasn’t been briefed on the plan; the creators are keeping it in a very tight circle.
• Netflix is ready when the Duffers are, but there’s no schedule yet.
• The Duffers moved their overall deal to Paramount; they’ll still be creatively involved in the spin-off, just not running it day-to-day.

Bottom line: Stranger Things is ending in 2025, and the spin-off will happen — eventually. The Duffers are treating it like a long game, not a quick cash-in. Smart, but don’t expect to be bingeing it anytime soon.