Ross Duffer rules out a 'Stranger Things' feature film as live-action spinoff moves forward

Highlights

• Ross Duffer confirms a live-action Stranger Things spinoff is in development
  
• The project is a TV series, not a feature film
  
• The new story does not follow the Hawkins characters
  
• Separate from the Broadway play, The First Shadow and the upcoming animated series
  

A new chapter for the Stranger Things universe

Ross Duffer confirms that a live-action spinoff of Stranger Things is moving ahead, but he makes it clear that it is not a feature film. Instead, the project is designed as a television series that expands the franchise without continuing the story of the original characters.

Duffer explains that while the world of Stranger Things remains rich with possibilities, the Hawkins storyline is ending with season five. The spinoff will introduce new characters and explore a narrative that stands apart from the fight that defined the core series.

Not a movie, a deliberate shift

A TV project with its own identity

Duffer addresses speculation around a potential feature film and clarifies that the live-action spinoff is not being developed for theaters. The plan is a TV series that exists within the established universe but does not rely on the arcs of Eleven, Mike, Dustin, or the rest of the Hawkins cast.

He notes that the team wants the franchise to grow in a way that feels fresh and avoids repeating the central story that fans already know.

Part of a wider expansion

Multiple projects underway

The live-action series joins a growing list of Stranger Things extensions. The Broadway prequel play The First Shadow explores the early lives of key characters, while an animated series inspired by the show is also in production.

Each project is meant to expand the mythology in a different direction rather than function as a sequel to the original storyline.

What comes next

With season five set to close the main arc both in theaters and on Netflix, the franchise enters a new phase. Duffer indicates that the upcoming projects will offer fans different entry points into the universe while keeping the focus on distinctive storytelling rather than retreading the path of the original cast.