Netflix has officially announced Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure, a 1950s live-action prequel series slated to premiere in 2028. The announcement arrived on November 6, 2026—the annual franchise celebration marking the date Will Byers disappeared in 1983—alongside a slate of merchandise collaborations and a final-season blooper reel, as reported by What’s on Netflix.
The upcoming prequel moves away from the flagship series’ Hawkins teenagers to explore an earlier era in Marion, Nevada, beginning on April 19, 1955. According to the announcement teaser reported by Empire, the narrative predates the events of the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow by four years, exploring the Nevada experiment and otherworldly rock tied to Henry Creel's backstory.
Kate Trefry and Joe Wright Lead the Prequel Production
Series writer and playwright Kate Trefry serves as showrunner and executive producer, partnering with franchise creators Matt and Ross Duffer. Variety notes that Joe Wright, whose feature credits include Atonement and Pride & Prejudice, is attached to direct the first three episodes. Production is scheduled to begin in 2027 in New Mexico.
Executive producers also include Shawn Levy and his 21 Laps banner, alongside Paul Dichter, Shelley Meals, Andrea Sperling, and Pavlina Hatoupis. While the Duffer brothers remain executive producers, their day-to-day involvement with Netflix is more limited following their exclusive film and television deal with Paramount that began in April 2026, What’s on Netflix reported.
Global Merchandise Crossovers Spark Scalper Concerns
Alongside the television announcement, Stranger Things Day brought numerous brand collaborations worldwide. Netflix Japan unveiled partnerships with Seven Eleven, BEAMS HEART, and a branded Tamagotchi scheduled for release in late February 2027 with pre-orders opening immediately, according to What’s on Netflix.
Franchise Expansion Across Streaming and Stage
The franchise continues to expand across multiple formats following the conclusion of the flagship series. Netflix’s animated series Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 has released its first two seasons, exploring paranormal mysteries during the winter of 1985. Meanwhile, the stage production Stranger Things: The First Shadow is set to close its West End run at the Phoenix Theatre in London on December 27, before concluding its Broadway engagement at the Marquis Theater in New York City on January 3, 2027, as detailed by Netflix.
Frequently Asked Questions About Other Worlds
When will Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure premiere?
Netflix has scheduled the live-action prequel series to premiere in 2028, with filming slated to begin in New Mexico in 2027.
What time period does the prequel cover?
The series is set in the 1950s, opening on April 19, 1955, in Marion, Nevada, which places it a few years before the events of the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
Will the original Hawkins cast appear in the series?
No, the series features an entirely new cast and story rather than following Eleven, Will, or the rest of the Hawkins crew.
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