Netflix’s ‘The Boroughs’ Just Dropped Its Trailer and This Is the Grown-Up ‘Stranger Things’ You Didn’t Know You Needed
Following the end of ‘Stranger Things‘, the Duffer Brothers have wasted no time staking out their next major project. Their Upside Down Pictures banner has been quietly working behind the scenes to bring a new supernatural drama to Netflix, and after months of first-look images and growing anticipation, the moment fans have been waiting for has finally arrived.
‘The Boroughs’ is an eight-episode sci-fi series created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, and it received its initial order from Netflix back in April 2023. Filming officially kicked off in September 2024 in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with production running for roughly seven months before wrapping.
Netflix has now released the full trailer for the series, confirming a premiere date of May 21. The footage pulls back the curtain on a sun-drenched retirement community hiding something deeply sinister, with the tagline embedded in the footage promising that this is no final chapter for its residents but rather something far more dangerous and unexpected than anyone inside those walls could have imagined.
The series assembles an extraordinary ensemble, with Alfred Molina playing Sam, Geena Davis as Renee, Alfre Woodard as Judy, Denis O’Hare as Wally, Clarke Peters as Art, and Bill Pullman as Jack. The wider cast also includes Dee Wallace, Ed Begley Jr., Jane Kaczmarek, and Karan Soni, among a rich roster of supporting players.
Woodard gave an early preview of what to expect when speaking to Collider last year, revealing that the top of the call sheet was made up of actors between 62 and 76 years old. She described the world of ‘The Boroughs’ as one where everyday retirement life is quietly disrupted by something lurking beneath the surface, one that promises horror and humor side by side. She was also clear that the show does not soften its stakes, confirming that characters do not make it out unscathed.
The Duffer Brothers have been equally vocal about their enthusiasm, telling Tudum that the heroes of ‘The Boroughs’ are “a similarly lovable bunch of misfits” to the kids from ‘Stranger Things’, and promising an adventure that is “scary, funny, and deeply touching” in equal measure. Addiss and Matthews, for their part, described the core challenge as building a world capable of sustaining multiple emotional tones at once, crediting the Duffer Brothers as “the masters of balancing heart and horror.”
The story follows Alfred Molina’s Sam Cooper, a newcomer whose terrifying nighttime encounter with something inhuman sets him on a collision course with a group of fellow misfits, including a sharp-witted former journalist, a spiritual seeker, and a cynical music manager, as they race to unravel the dark truth at the heart of the community before time runs out. With its iconic ensemble, a premise built for fans still mourning the Hawkins farewell, and a production pedigree that speaks for itself, ‘The Boroughs’ has the makings of a genuine Netflix event.
Which of these legendary performers are you most excited to see face whatever is lurking beneath those desert cul-de-sacs?
