First Look at the New ‘Stranger Things’ Spinoff Has Fans Losing It

Netflix has shared the first official look at its upcoming Stranger Things animated spinoff, and fans are already talking.

The new series is called Stranger Things: Tales from ’85. It is set during the winter of 1985 and takes place between seasons 2 and 3 of the original show. This makes it a story that fills in gaps rather than continuing the ending of the main series.

The reveal came through a newly released poster shared by Netflix. The image shows Eleven standing at the front with her hand raised, while Mike, Dustin, Will, Lucas, and Max walk behind her through a snowy version of Hawkins. Ahead of them is a new monster with long, vine-like features that appears to have come from the Upside Down. The poster also confirms that a teaser trailer will be released tomorrow.

According to Netflix, the animated spinoff is scheduled to arrive sometime in 2026. No exact release date has been announced yet. Since promotion has already started in early February, some fans believe the show could land in the first half of the year.

One major difference in Tales from ’85 is the cast. The original actors, including Millie Bobby Brown, are not returning to voice their characters. Instead, new voice actors have been cast. Brooklyn Davey Norstedt will voice Eleven, while Luca Diaz will voice Mike. Netflix has confirmed that familiar characters will appear, but there will also be a new character named Nikki Baxter.

Nikki is expected to play a key role in the story, as a new kind of supernatural danger enters Hawkins. Her presence, along with the new monster, raises questions about how this threat fits into the larger Stranger Things timeline, since it is never mentioned in later seasons.

The winter setting also stands out. Most of the original series took place during warmer months, with only a few scenes set around Christmas. Snow-covered Hawkins gives the spinoff a very different look and mood.

Even though the show is animated, the Duffer Brothers are still involved as executive producers. Netflix has said this will help the series feel like a true missing chapter, describing it as a lost chapter from the Stranger Things story. The animated format is also meant to capture the magic of childhood that defined the early seasons.

Eleven’s central place in the poster has caught fans’ attention as well. This is the first time the character has been seen since the main series ended on December 31. While the spinoff will not explain her fate, since it takes place years earlier, her return is expected to be a big draw.

As excitement builds, fans are split on how they feel about the animated style and the new voice cast. Some are curious, while others are cautious about the changes.

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