Image Credit: Netflix
It’s time to grab your wrist rockets and bundle up. Netflix has officially unveiled the highly anticipated animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Stories from ’85Confirming an April 2026 release date, revealing a massive voice cast including Jeremy Jordan, and a first look at the frozen horrors that await Hawkins.
While fans are eagerly waiting for its next chapter stranger things Universe, Netflix has offered a wealth of information about the animated series produced by Flying Bark Productions (glitch tech, rise of the teenage mutant ninja turtles), who is also hard at work on three more Netflix series: Ghost Busters, minecraftAnd clash of clans.
Here’s everything we know about the new series arriving this spring.
When will ‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85’ release on Netflix?
Netflix has confirmed that the series will premiere globally 23 April 2026.
What is the story of ‘Tales from ’85’?
As the title suggests, the series takes place in winter of 1985. This keeps the timeline firmly in place Between Season 2 and Season 3.
Set a few months after the Mind Flayer’s capture of Will (season 2), but before the chaotic summer of ’85 and the Battle of Starcourt (season 3), the series picks up a “lost chapter” of the saga, with the entire gang still together in Hawkins.
The updated official summary provided by Netflix reads:
“Return with Hawkins Stranger Things: Stories from ’85An exciting new animated series from showrunner Eric Robles and executive producers The Duffer Brothers. In the winter of 1985, the city is covered in snow and the horrors of the Upside Down are finally subsiding.
Our heroes Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Max are back to a normal life of D&D, snowball fights and quiet days. But beneath the snow, something terrible has awakened. Can this happen in reverse? From the depths of Hawking Lab? Or from somewhere else entirely? Our heroes must race to solve this mystery and save Hawkins in this untold story set in the Stranger Things universe.
A new first look today also gives us our first look at Nikki Baxter, a new character who will join our main heroes in season two Stories of ’85. She wears a pink mohawk and has a good connection to Hawking’s world that will be revealed soon. In Annecy, Nikki was called “the tinkerer”. If I had to compare, Nikki is a mix of Zaria overwatch and from vi of difference.
Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 (Left to Right) Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plesala as Will, Brooklynn Dewey Norstad as Eleven and Luca Diaz as Mike in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
Showrunner and executive producer Eric Robles spoke to Netflix about the unique opportunity animation provides to fill in the gaps of the timeline:
“We get to spend time with these kids in a way that you didn’t have time for in the major series. We were able to freeze time and really go on never-before-told adventures with them in this timeline.”
However, Robles cautioned that just because it’s animated, fans shouldn’t expect a safety net. Robles said, “We want the audience to feel that these kids are in danger, the stakes are real and bad things can happen to anyone.” “And things happen that are very scary in a sense, so that really makes the danger to children even more apparent.”
The Voice Cast Update: Jeremy Jordan is Steve Harington
Perhaps the biggest news of the day is the casting announcement. While the characters are familiar, a new roster of voice talent is stepping into the sneakers of the Hawkins crew.
Netflix announces Broadway and TV star jeremy jordan (news, super girl) will provide the voice for everyone’s favorite babysitter, steve harrington.
The main party included:
- Brooklyn Dewey Norstad as eleven
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as max
- luca diaz as mike
- Elisha “EJ” Williams as lucas
- braxton quinney as dustin
- Benjamin Placela as will
The cast is being rounded out Brett Gipson As Jim Hopper, with notable names odessa azion, jaanne garofaloAnd lou diamond phillips In unknown roles.
More voice cast members have yet to be officially announced, including big names for Nikki and Nancy, as well as some other characters yet to be unveiled.
Are you excited to return to the Upside Down this April? Let us know in the comments below! Here are all the new first looks:
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 (Left to Right) Luca Diaz as Mike and Brett Gipson as Hopper in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 (Left to Right) Jeremy Jordan as Steve and Braxton Quinney as Dustin in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 (Left to Right) Elisha Williams as Lucas and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
Stranger Things: Stories from ’85. Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
Stranger Things: Stories from ’85. Benjamin Plesala as Will in Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
Stranger Things: Stories from ’85. Ten million. Courtesy of Netflix © 2026
