“Stranger Things” theories seem to be running rampant following the series finale that aired New Year’s Eve.
Many fans were disappointed with the ending and began speculating about alternative endings. This led to “Conformity Gate,” where fans believed the final episode was not actually the end. They waited for a new release Jan. 7 that never came, as previously reported by the Deseret News.
Now, new theories are surfacing that the show’s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, are rewriting Season 5 altogether. While this is not true, the theory stems from a new animated series coming to expand the Hawkins universe later this year, first announced by Netflix’s Tudum in November and previously reported by the Deseret News.
“Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85″ turns back the clock to 1985, between seasons 2 and 3 of the original series, leading to a plot rewrite in a sense.
“The original characters must fight new monsters and unravel a paranormal mystery terrorizing their town in ‘Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85,’” the show’s official logline reads.
According to Tudum, the Duffer Brothers once again served as co-creators and executive producers via Upside Down Pictures, alongside Shawn Levy of 21 Laps, Dan Cohen and Eric Robles.
“With animation there’s really no limits,” Ross Duffer said in the show’s first-look video. “Eric and his team can just go wild ... and they have.”
Who’s in the cast of ‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85′?
Robles noted the project will encompass “the magic of Hawkins in a new way,” adding, “Get your flashlight, get your backpack because it’s going to be amazing.”
The series will reunite audiences with younger Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin and Max. So far, the cast list includes:
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven (previously played by Millie Bobby Brown)
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max (previously played by Sadie Sink)
- Luca Diaz as Mike (previously played by Finn Wolfhard)
- Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas (previously played by Caleb McLaughlin)
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin (previously played by Gaten Matarazzo)
- Benjamin Plessala as Will (previously played by Noah Schnapp)
- Brett Gipson as Hopper (previously played by David Harbour)
According to Netflix, Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo and Lou Diamond Phillips will also join the cast.
“We couldn’t be more blown away by what Eric Robles and his team have come up with — the scripts and artwork are incredible, and we can’t wait to share more with you! The adventure continues," the Duffer Brothers told Tudum.
Fans online are experiencing a mix of excitement and hesitation as they wrap their heads around what to expect from the upcoming prequel.