‘Stranger Things’ has officially closed its main story with Season 5’s finale, but makers are done with Hawkins yet — or the Upside Down, or its massive fan base either. The streaming giant has just revealed new projects that will keep the ‘Stranger Things’ universe alive.
What’s next?
Let’s establish the facts first: ‘Stranger Things’ has officially concluded the run of the series with its fifth and final season, as the finale dropped on New Year’s Day (originally, at 8 p.m. ET on December 31). However, that’s not the end — the OTT giant just released an announcement for a new documentary called ‘One Last Adventure: The Making of Stranger Things 5’.This documentary film goes beyond the screen action, offering fans an in-depth, personal look at how the cast and crew created the final season — from early scripts and concept art to emotional moments on set. The documentary is set to premiere on January 12, barely two weeks after the last episodes of Season 5 dropped worldwideAs the trailer of the documentary has dropped already, the new offering from the Duffer Brothers looks quite promising and is certainly going to be a treat for loyal viewers, celebrating nearly a decade of storytelling, character arcs, and the cultural impact that ‘Stranger Things’ has had since its 2016 debut.As per reports, the documentary will include much-coveted behind-the-scenes footage, with the final season being filmed on set, conversations about the creative process of the team, as well as the emotional goodbyes of cast members. Matt and Ross Duffer, creators of the show, will also be sharing their insight on how the show met its end and what it was like to produce with such limited time and resources. That’s not all. The core cast members will also be seen sharing their experiences, revealing how their relationships were developed over the last decade, what challenges they encountered, and their greatest accomplishments throughout all seasons of ‘Stranger Things’. Safe to say, this documentary is going to be a treat for everyone who has been seeking a more adept closure to the beloved series.
What else is happening?
The documentary isn’t all that’s happening. In addition to that, the streamer is expanding the ‘Stranger Things’ franchise with a new series in development. Creators are working on at least two spin-offs — including both an animated series called ‘Stranger Things: Tales From ’85’ and a live-action spinoff set in the same universe but exploring fresh locations and characters beyond Hawkins. These projects are set to expand the lineage mythology while offering different storytelling formats for devoted fans.As per Hollywood Reporter, the OTT platform executives don’t consider these follow-ups as just “bonus content” — they’re intentional parts of the franchise’s future. ‘Tales From ’85’ in particular lets the show revisit 1980s nostalgia in animated form, opening the door to new adventures and untold side stories. Meanwhile, the live-action spin-off is shaping up to be a more traditional continuation with fresh faces and new mysteries.
What isn’t happening — despite compelling speculations?
Despite strong fan speculation and viral theories about secret episodes or bonus scenes, ias been confirmed by the streamer that all official episodes of Season 5 are already on the platform, and no additional story episodes are planned beyond the documentary. Thus, all the rumors about having another finale aligned with the fan-fetched “conformity gate theory” can rest.
