spinoffs

Stranger Things season five part one has just landed on Netflix and fans are already begging for more.

Stranger Things is “not over”, with multiple spin-offs in the works as the unforgettable sci-fi drama begins its final chapter.

Stranger Things has been a global phenomenon since it originally debuted in 2016 and now, nine years later, its story is finally getting wrapped up as the gang do everything they can to destroy Vecna for good.

While it will be a devastating loss for Netflix fans, this won’t be the end as it’s already been confirmed that the franchise is going to be expanding with new spin-offs.

Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed the good news at the Stranger Things season five London premiere, sharing: “The world of Hawkins, Indiana and the Upside Down, it’s not over.”

Stranger Things spin-offs

Stranger Things: Tales from ’85

The first show to be announced was an animated series entitled Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85, which is set to be released next year.

Its official synopsis reads: “Set in Hawkins, Indiana in the winter of 1985, where Eleven and her friends unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town.”

Unfortunately, the original cast is not listed as voiceover artists for the animated series with newcomers taking on their iconic characters.

Stranger Things: One Way or Another

Stranger Things will also be taking on a new format with a novel, which has been labelled as “A Nancy Wheeler Mystery”, on the way.

Written by Caitlyn Schneiderhan, Stranger Things: One Way or Another takes place between the events of seasons four and five and follows Nancy and Roby Buckley as they investigate a fellow Hawkins student.

The description teases: “When fellow classmate Joey Taft starts acting shifty at graduation, Nancy is convinced Vecna’s found his newest victim.

“Joined by fellow amateur sleuth Robin Buckley, Nancy doesn’t waste any time questioning Joey.

“What the girls discover leads them down the path of a bigger story than The Hawkins Post could ever have assigned Nancy.”

Fans won’t have to wait very long either for the book to be out as it’s set to be published next week, Tuesday, December 2.

Rumoured live-action spin-off

What’s possibly even more exciting though is there is another rumoured spin-off currently in development.

According to The Duffer Brothers’ IMDb pages, a series labelled “Untitled Stranger Things spin-off series” is currently in pre-production.

It has been reported that this could be another live-action series but for now, there has been no official confirmation on if this is really going ahead or what form it will take.

Either way though, with talk of these spin-offs as well as the ongoing success of the live stage show Stranger Things: The First Shadow, it doesn’t look like it will be the end just yet.

Stranger Things season five, part two, premieres on Christmas Day, Thursday, December 25, in the US, and Boxing Day, Friday, December 26, on Netflix.

FOR almost a decade, Stranger Things has had adults and kids alike cowering behind the sofa as a bunch of youngsters battle the evil Demogorgon and Vecna.

I’ve been scared out of my wits a few times but as the fifth and final series begins today, I have some very good news for fans of the hit sci-fi show.

Several spin-off projects are already in the works, I can reveal.

We will see more of the story unfold as inhabitants of the ­fictional US town of ­Hawkins, Indiana, venture into the mysterious alternate dimension The Upside Down.

Speaking at the London premiere, Netflix CEO Ted Sarandos confirmed: “The world of Hawkins, Indiana and the Upside Down, it’s not over.”

There is already a stage show, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, which has had rave reviews on London’s West End.

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And next year will see the launch of an animated series, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, featuring a new cast and taking place in the period between the second and third series of the main show.

But talks are under way about a series of other opportunities, including chances to explore individual characters.

A source said: “Stranger Things has been one of the ultimate success stories for Netflix — loads of people got subscriptions just to watch that.

“They know there is a massive appetite for more, so although now is the right time to end the main series, it won’t be the end of the story.

“There have been talks of a live-action spin-off as well as another animated project.

“But there is also a hope that individual characters could return to the screen in stand-alone shows.”

One person unlikely to take up that offer is Millie Bobby Brown. She played key character Eleven, who has supernatural powers.

Millie made it clear she is excited to snap up opportunities away from the show after so many years working on it.

The last series in 2022 ended on a cliffhanger with Max Mayfield, played by Sadie Sink, left horrifically injured after being attacked by Vecna.

We find out what’s happened to her and after watching the first episode a few weeks ago, I can confirm it’s still just as terrifying.

The first four episodes of season five drop today, followed by more on Boxing Day and the grand finale on New Year’s Day.

David Harbour is back as police chief Jim Hopper, the adoptive father of Eleven — despite an allegation of bullying on-set and accusations from his ex-wife Lily Allen that he was unfaithful.

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But his character only has barely nine minutes of screen time in the episode which features a brilliant soundtrack including Diana Ross’s Upside Down, and ABBA’s Fernando during a particularly gruesome scene.

Watching bloody fights between monsters and mortals isn’t usually how I spend my Christmas, but this year, I’ll be glued to it.