Stranger Things Prequel Series: What Netflix Has Confirmed as of November 6, 2026

Last verified: November 6, 2026, at 9:08 p.m. UTC (UTC+00:00).

Netflix has announced Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure, a live-action prequel series set in the 1950s and planned for release in 2028. It will take place before both the original show and the 1959 events of the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow, expanding the franchise into an earlier period with a new setting and characters.

The announcement gives viewers a release year and a creative team, but leaves the central plot and cast under wraps. The Duffer Brothers, who created Stranger Things, are co-creators alongside longtime franchise writer Kate Trefry, who will serve as showrunner. Netflix says production will take place in New Mexico.

Destaques

• Other Worlds is a live-action prequel set in the 1950s, with a planned 2028 Netflix release.
• Kate Trefry is showrunner, co-creator and writer; Matt and Ross Duffer are also co-creators.
• Joe Wright will direct the first three episodes, and production will take place in New Mexico.
• Netflix has not announced a cast, exact premiere date or detailed plot.

What is the Stranger Things prequel series about?

Netflix describes Other Worlds as a new adventure in the Stranger Things universe. It is set decades before the original Hawkins story, which began in the 1980s, and before the events of The First Shadow. In its November 6 announcement, Netflix said the series would introduce a new setting, heroes and villains.

Executive producer Shawn Levy also indicated that the story will bring a new ensemble and mythology. That gives fans a broad sense of the approach, but Netflix has not disclosed the characters’ names, the precise story location or the supernatural threat they will face. New Mexico is the announced production location; it should not be assumed to be the fictional setting.

The earlier time period invites questions about how the story might connect to the mysteries already established in Hawkins. For now, those connections remain to be explained. A prequel can take place in the same fictional universe without directly telling the origin story of every familiar character or monster.

When will Other Worlds be released on Netflix?

Netflix says Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure is coming in 2028. It has not announced a month, day, premiere time or episode count. A release year is a useful planning window, but it is not a fixed date, and the company has not yet detailed a release schedule for the series.

For viewers in the United Kingdom, Netflix has identified the service as the home of the show but has not announced a separate UK launch date or time. Readers looking for a countdown will need to wait for a more specific announcement.

Who is making the Stranger Things prequel?

Matt and Ross Duffer are co-creators of the new series with Kate Trefry. Trefry, a longtime Stranger Things writer, is also its showrunner and writer. She wrote the script for The First Shadow, giving the new production a creative link to the earlier stage prequel.

Director Joe Wright, whose films include Pride & Prejudice and Atonement, is set to direct the first three episodes and executive produce. Trefry and the Duffer Brothers are also executive producers, alongside Shawn Levy and other producers named in Netflix’s announcement.

That team connects the project to the original series and the stage play, although the company has presented it as a new story. Netflix has not said whether viewers must see either earlier production to follow it.

Who is in the Other Worlds cast?

No cast has been announced. In Netflix’s announcement, the Duffer Brothers said casting was the next step, so names circulating online should be treated as unconfirmed unless the production or Netflix announces them.

The creators have promised new heroes and villains, but have not identified them or confirmed appearances by actors from the original series. The 1950s setting also means viewers should not assume that the original show’s young ensemble will return in the same roles.

Is Other Worlds the same as The First Shadow or Tales From ’85?

No. Other Worlds is the newly announced live-action Netflix series set in the 1950s. The First Shadow is a stage play set in Hawkins in 1959 that explores Henry Creel’s past. Netflix says the new series takes place before the play, but has not provided a detailed account of their story connections.

For UK readers interested in the stage production, Netflix says The First Shadow is scheduled to complete its London West End run at the Phoenix Theatre on December 27, 2026. The official production update also lists a final Broadway performance on January 3, 2027.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 is a separate animated series featuring familiar Hawkins characters in 1985. Netflix says its first two seasons are streaming. It occupies a different point in the timeline and should not be confused with the newly announced live-action prequel.

What should fans watch for next?

The most useful next updates will be casting announcements, a clearer story description and a more specific release date. Production news may also clarify where the fictional story takes place and how closely it relates to established events. Until Netflix or the filmmakers provide those details, theories about returning characters and the origins of particular creatures remain speculation.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Stranger Things prequel confirmed?

Yes. Netflix announced the live-action series Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure on November 6, 2026.

Is the prequel coming out in 2028?

Netflix has announced 2028 as its release year, but has not provided an exact date.

Will the original Stranger Things cast return?

Netflix has not announced the cast or confirmed any returning actors. The creators have said the series will introduce new characters.