Netflix officially announced the live-action prequel series “Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure” on November 6, 2026, during Stranger Things Day, Zazoom.it reported. The series is slated for a 2028 release and marks a significant departure from the franchise’s iconic setting.
A New Frontier in Nevada
The new series will transport audiences away from Hawkins, Indiana, and back in time to the year 1955. The setting is Marion, Nevada, a stark contrast to the familiar small town that has been the heart of the Stranger Things universe. According to Zazoom.it, this prequel will introduce a completely new story with fresh heroes and villains. While the original series and its animated spin-off, “Storie dal 1985,” have been rooted in Hawkins, this live-action project promises a standalone narrative. The teaser, released on Netflix's official Instagram account, carries the provocative tagline, "Prima di Hawkins c'era Marion" ("Before Hawkins, there was Marion"), emphasizing this bold new chapter.
The Creative Minds Behind the Mystery
The creative direction of “Other Worlds” is in the hands of Kate Trefry, who has been a key writer for “Stranger Things” since its second season and penned the story for the theatrical production “The First Shadow.” She will serve as the showrunner for the new series. The Duffer Brothers, the creators of the original series, will return as co-creators and executive producers through their company, Upside Down Pictures. Their production partners, Shawn Levy of 21 Laps, and a team of other executive producers, including Paul Dichter and Shelley Meals, are also involved in the project.
According to Matt and Ross Duffer, the new series aims to be both familiar and innovative, promising “new heroes and villains” while retaining the “heart, mystery, and spectacle” of the original. Jinny Howe, Netflix’s head of scripted series, echoed this sentiment, assuring fans that the show will bring the same beloved elements to a new era.
Connecting to the Franchise’s Past
While “Other Worlds” is a new story, it is intrinsically linked to the franchise’s mythology. Recenserie.com notes that the series is set to explore events even earlier than those depicted in “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” the stage play about Henry Creel’s origin story. This temporal placement suggests the series will examine the origins of the supernatural forces that plague the world of "Stranger Things," particularly in relation to the substance from the Upside Down that transformed Creel into the villain Vecna. The teaser’s soundtrack, “Sh-Boom” by The Chords—a song used in the fifth season when Max was inside Henry Creel’s memories—further strengthens this connection.
The choice of Nevada as the setting is highly significant. Recenserie.com notes that this is where the young Henry Creel discovered the mysterious object in the caves, an important moment referenced in "The First Shadow." While it is not confirmed that Henry Creel will appear in "Other Worlds," the Nevada setting strongly implies that the series will explore the origins of the evil that would later threaten Hawkins.
The "Stranger Things" prequel series is titled "Other Worlds" and has been ordered to series at Netflix for a 2028 release. • The prequel takes place in 1955 in Marion, Nevada before the events of "Stranger Things" and "Stranger Things: The First Shadow." • The Duffer… pic.twitter.com/IB73qKfNxe
What We Know and the Questions That Remain
Here is a breakdown of the confirmed facts and the biggest unknowns surrounding “Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure.”
| Confirmed | Status |
|---|---|
| Release Year | 2028 |
| Setting | Marion, Nevada, 1955 |
| Production Location | New Mexico |
| Showrunner | Kate Trefry |
| Cast | Not yet announced |
| Plot Details | Kept under wraps |
The most significant question hanging over the project is its connection to extraterrestrial themes. The teaser’s imagery features a mysterious anomaly in the sky, and the Duffers’ cryptic advice to “watch the sky” has fueled widespread speculation about UFOs and alien encounters. However, Netflix has not confirmed this direction, leaving the nature of the central mystery a closely guarded secret. The most pressing question for fans is whether this new series will finally reveal the origins of the Upside Down and its connection to the world above, or if it will introduce a new, unrelated supernatural threat. The answers, much like the secrets of Hawkins itself, will have to wait.
More on Other Worlds
The Stranger Things franchise has officially announced a prequel series titled 'OTHER WORLDS' set to premiere in 2028! 👀 • The series will take place in 1955 in Marion, Nevada, just before the events of Stranger Things. • The show is Co-created by the Duffer Brothers and Kate… pic.twitter.com/UPZSrL95fn
Netflix has announced a Stranger Things prequel called Other Worlds, coming to Netflix in 2028 pic.twitter.com/WYnIcWNsXt
Netflix Announces Stranger Things Live-Action Prequel “Other Worlds” for 2028 Netflix is expanding the Stranger Things universe with a new live-action prequel titled Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure. The series is set in the 1950s, decades before the events of the… pic.twitter.com/5jFpoSnnRF
