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Stranger Things spinoff won't expand or explain the Upside Down lore, say Duffer Brothers

Netflix's enigmatic Stranger Things spinoff will be a case of "almost anthologizing," say the Duffer Brothers

Let me tell you something I bet you already know: Stranger Things isn't completely ending. Yes, the upcoming season 5 will tie up all the loose ends in the tale of the Hawkins gang - from Eleven to Hopper and beyond - but as has been confirmed for years at this point, a Stranger Things spinoff show is already in the works. Recently, the creators of Netflix's hit franchise (Matt and Ross Duffer) went on record to discuss what that spinoff would look like...

Or rather, what it wouldn't. 

See, according to an interview they recently did with Variety, the Stranger Things spinoff won't be what many fans were probably expecting it to be; that is, the continuation of a larger, arcing narrative across shows. For one thing, the brothers confirm that the characters of Stranger Things will be replaced by an all-new cast for the still-untitled spinoff, nor do the brothers seem intent on exploring more lore of the Upside Down.

"It’s so different than something like Star Wars," said Matt, seemingly referring to the leagues upon leagues of shows, games, and more that expand upon the Star Wars mythology set down in the original trilogy. With the spinoff, the Duffers are aiming to create a similar "style of storytelling," with Matt boling down their efforts as "kids, adventures, sci-fi/fantasy, rather than increasingly expand what could become an insanely convoluted mythology."

"They’re going to live in a bit of a different world," says Ross of the spinoff characters, "There’s going to be connective tissue, but you’re almost anthologizing in a way. Because we’re not Star Wars. We can’t be like, 'Oh, now we’re on this planet.'"

Dang, those Duffer boys really don't want to be Star Wars, do they? 

That said, don't tell me you wouldn't watch a Baby Venca show à la The Mandalorian.

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.  


Grant DeArmitt

Grant DeArmitt: Grant DeArmitt (he/him) likes horror, comics, and the unholy union of the two. In the past, and despite their better judgment, he has written for Nightmare on Film Street and Newsarama. He lives in Brooklyn with his partner, Kingsley, and corgi, Legs.

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