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You'll recall Popverse's recent reporting that Stranger Things creators the Duffer Brothers were considering leaving Netflix for a deal at Paramount. Well, go ahead and toss out the "considering" part of that story - it appears Matt and Ross Duffer have officially decided to switch teams. Yes, the pair that created one of Netflix's most successful original series are leaving the streamer behind, having signed on to the home of Star Trek, Dexter, and more.

The story comes to us from Variety, who reported news of the deal in an article published August 19. The outlet reports not only that the Duffer Brothers' new contract with Paramount will last four years, but also that the bulk of their creation will not be focused on developing new TV projects - rather, the pair's work will heavily emphasize "ambitious," "large-scale theatrical films." As to what that could entail, the details are unknown.

What is known, however, is that Duffers' exit will not be an immediate one. According to Variety, the brothers' will finish out their contract with Netflix, under which they worked on the Stranger Things franchise, and which will end in April of 2026. For those keeping track, that means that there's still plenty of time to develop the Stranger Things animated series that has already been announced as part of Netflix's expansion of the show's universe. Additionally, Variety notes that the brothers will "remain involved in Stranger Things and their other existing development projects" even after the completion of their deal as part of the new agreement... so even if they're not overseeing everything on a day-to-day basis, they're not leaving the family entirely.

Still, it should be noted that this marks the beginning of the end for a very fruitful partnership. With April just a few months away as of this writing and Netflix showing no signs of slowing their Stranger Things production down, we can likely expect to see a new creative lead announced for the franchise by this time next year.

The world turned Upside Down, indeed.

Stranger Things season 5, volume one debuts November 26 on Netflix, followed by volume 2 on December 25, and the ultimate finale of the series on December 31. 

As we all collectively wait for Stranger Things season 5, here's the keys to getting ready:

• How to watch Stranger Things in chronological or release order
• Getting to know the Stranger Things season 5 cast
• There needs to be more death in Stranger Things, says co-star Gaten Matarazzo
• The Stranger Things time jump between season 4 and 5 has been confirmed by Netflix - and it raises some serious questions
• "They land the plane," David Harbour describes the Stranger Things finale, which he calls its "best episode"