Stranger Things Universe Expands with Animated Series, Stage Play, and Series Finale
The Stranger Things franchise has released multiple new properties, including an animated series and a stage play, while the main series concluded on December 31. These developments provide expanded narrative context for the universe, spanning different time periods and formats.
Animated Series: Stranger Things: Tales From '85
Premise and Setting
Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is a 10-episode animated series. The story is set on January 10, 1985, placing it chronologically between seasons 2 and 3 of the original series. The plot involves the Hawkins group of characters confronting a new creature that escaped from the Upside Down.
All episodes were released on Netflix on Thursday, April 23.
Voice Cast
The series employs a new voice cast, including:
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max
- Luca Diaz as Mike
- Elisha "EJ" Williams as Lucas
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin
- Benjamin Plessala as Will
- Brett Gipson as Hopper
- Jeremy Jordan as Steve
- Alysia Reiner as Karen Wheeler
- Alessandra Antonelli as Nancy
Production
Eric Robles serves as showrunner. The series is executive produced by Matt and Ross Duffer.
Stage Play: Stranger Things: The First Shadow
Premiere and Run
The First Shadow is a prequel stage play that premiered on London's West End in December 2023. The production is scheduled for a Broadway opening in April 2025. It is currently running at the Phoenix Theatre in London and the Marquis Theatre in New York City.
Plot and Canon
The play details the acquisition of powers by Henry Creel and his development under Dr. Brenner's supervision. It explores Creel's connections to the Abyss and the Upside Down, and portrays the high school experiences of characters Joyce, Hopper, and Bob.
Commercial Performance
The Broadway production set a new nine-performance house record for the Marquis Theatre, generating $2,510,948 for the week ending December 28. Actor Jamie Campbell Bower, who portrays Vecna, made a cameo appearance as an older Henry during a December 19 Broadway performance.
Documentary
A documentary titled Behind the Curtain: Stranger Things The First Shadow, chronicling the making of the play, is available for streaming on Netflix.
Main Series Conclusion
Final Episode
The Stranger Things main series concluded with its final episode on Wednesday, December 31. The episode depicted the defeat of the antagonist Henry Creel, also known as Vecna.
Vecna's Origin Revealed
Season 5 revealed that Henry Creel obtained his powers after exposure to material from the Abyss within a Nevada cave. This connection to an alternate dimension led to his objective of utilizing children in Hawkins to merge the Abyss with the human world. The series protagonists ultimately foiled this plan, with Joyce delivering the decisive blow.
According to a fan explanation published on X in November, the context of the cave scene was expanded upon in The First Shadow, where young Henry Creel was found with altered abilities after going missing.
Audience Reactions
Following the series finale, some viewers expressed a desire for The First Shadow to be available for streaming to provide additional context for the show's narrative.
Comments on social media platform X indicated that some viewers felt the play's canon status to the series, without broad accessibility, presented an issue for those who had not seen the live production. Multiple users requested that Netflix stream the play.