UPDATE: 2025-07-06 18:45 EST BY MATTHEW RUDOY
The Duffer Brothers Leave Netflix For Paramount
According toMatthew Belloni, the Duffers have made their decision to leave Netflix for Paramount. The theatrical component was reportedly a dealbreaker for the Duffers. Our original story continues below.
With the final season of the viral sensation sci-fi series on the horizon, the Duffer brothers may be leaving Netflix afterStranger Thingsseason 5. Ever since its premiere in 2016, the show has been one of the biggest properties on TV, consistently breaking viewership records and spawning various forms of merchandise and even a Broadway play.
After four successful seasons on the air, the Duffers announced thatStranger Thingsseason 5 would be the endof the series, with production having run from January to December 2024. However, as part of their overall deal with Netflix, it won’t be the end for the franchise, as both an animated and live-action spinoff are in the works for it.
Now, as first reported byPuck’s Matt Belloni, Paramount is reportedly “aggressively” making an effort to sign the Duffer brothers to a new creative deal. A subsequent report fromDeadlinewent on to indicate that the deal would include “both streaming [TV] and features with a big theatrical component”, something the creative pair reportedly have been trying to make happen at Netflix, but failed. As of now, reports indicate the deal will not impact any futureStranger Thingsproperties.
What This New Deal Could Mean For Stranger Things & The Duffer Brothers
The possibility of the Duffer brothers moving from Netflix to Paramount comes at an interesting time for all parties involved. For starters, in the wake of the Paramount-Skydance merger, the studio has been making some big moves with both recurring and new creatives. Most notably, Taylor Sheridan, 101 Studios, Hillwood and Paramount Television are developing Texas' largest movie and TV production studio.
Additionally, the studio has undergone a new segmentation breakdown when it comes to their TV productions, including relaunching Paramount Television for the third time to overseethe likes ofReacherand its spinoff,Neagley, andCrossfor Prime Video, as well as Apple TV+‘sMurderbot. CBS Studios, meanwhile, will continue the network’s procedurals output, as well as theStar Trekfranchise, among others.
As for the Duffers, however, prior to the deal being made, anticipation has been steadily ramping back up for all thingsStranger Thingswith the lead up to season 5 part 1’s November 26 premiere. Additionally, progress on its spinoffs has been gaining steam, withthe animated seriesStranger Things: Tales From ’85showing footage at this year’s Annecy Animation Festival.
Should the deal indeed go through, though, that would leave a few other projects in an unclear state of development. The Duffers had previously been attached to adapt Stephen King and Peter Straub’sThe Talismaninto a series, as well as produce alive-action series adaptation ofDeath Note, for the streamer.
If the reports are to be believed, that would mean only futureStranger Thingsspinoffs would not be part of the Duffers’ Paramount deal. This could very well lead to them either having to remove themselves from said projects, or if Paramount is as aggressive in their pursuit as they reportedly are, could see them bring the projects with them.
Our Take On The Duffer Bros.' Potential Paramount Deal
Stranger Thingsseason 5 part 1 premieres on Netflix on November 26, followed by part 2 on December 25 and the series finale on December 31.
Stranger Things
Cast
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
