Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Trailer Unleashes New Mystery in Hawkins

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Netflix has unveiled the debut trailer for Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, an animated spin-off taking place between the second and third seasons of the popular Stranger Things series.

Even though the main story of Stranger Things has finished, the characters from Hawkins still have adventures ahead, and a frightening threat remains from the Upside Down.

Premiering April 23rd exclusively on Netflix, Tales From ’85 comes from Eric Robles (creator of Glitch Techs) and features the Duffer Brothers—the creators of Stranger Things—as executive producers.

Watch below.

The Story Picks Up After Season 2

I’m so excited about this animated series! It takes place in the winter of 1985, and it’s amazing to see what happens with Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Will, Lucas, and Max after everything they went through closing the gate at Hawkins Lab. It’s like picking up right where we left off with them!

Now that things had calmed down, the kids went back to their usual activities – playing Dungeons & Dragons, having snowball fights, and dealing with everyday teenage problems. But trouble was brewing just around the corner.

Eric Robles, the showrunner, explained to Netflix’s Tudum that a major hurdle was figuring out new dangers after they closed the gate to the Upside Down. By revisiting the show’s backstory and drawing inspiration from 1980s horror films, he developed a mystery centered around science, fear, and the bonds of friendship.

New Monsters, Same Heart

This season moves away from the Demogorgons and Mind Flayers of previous installments. Instead, Robles and his team have created new monsters born from a combination of experiments at Hawkins Lab and the genetic material of the Upside Down.

Okay, picture this: a creature feature, but instead of a beach, it’s all snow. Director Robles is really building the suspense, hinting that something truly terrifying is hidden beneath the surface. He’s promising a level of tension that really recalls the classic shark thriller, Jaws. It’s a simple premise, but he’s making it sound genuinely frightening!

The story feels similar to the first season of Stranger Things – it’s suspenseful and a little scary, but also very emotionally engaging. As Robles pointed out, these characters aren’t trying to save the world, just their town of Hawkins.

A Familiar Yet Fresh Cast

The voice cast includes:

  • Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven
  • Luca Diaz as Mike
  • Braxton Quinney as Dustin
  • Benjamin Plessala as Will
  • Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas
  • Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max

We also witness friendships growing, like the connection between Lucas and Max, and Dustin starting a detective club with his friends to solve the latest puzzle.

A Return to What Fans Love

According to Robles, Tales From ’85 focuses on a nostalgic return to simpler times – when the challenges felt personal, the characters were tightly connected, and the story was about getting by in a strange town, rather than grand, world-saving adventures.

Because the creators, the Duffer Brothers, are still heavily involved, viewers can anticipate that the show will stay true to its characters, deliver powerful emotional moments, and continue to capture the feel of the 1980s.

Trailer Reaction & Release Date

I just watched the new trailer, and it’s seriously creepy! It shows Hawkins covered in snow, with these spooky woods and flickering lights. There are also these weird plant monsters running around. As a big fan, it definitely feels like the ‘Stranger Things’ I love, but the animation adds a whole new level of tension and makes the Upside Down even more unsettling and surreal. I can’t wait!

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 hits Netflix on April 23, 2026.

Watch the trailer:

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2026-02-02 23:32