Credit: Inside the MagicAfter nearly a decade of building one of Netflix’s most iconic series, Matt and Ross Duffer—the creative minds behind Stranger Things—are officially making the jump to Paramount. By the time Stranger Things wraps its fifth and final season at the end of this year, the brothers will be taking their talents to a new home, where their future projects are expected to focus on tentpole films and large-scale productions.
Reports of the Duffers’ potential exit began circulating in recent weeks, hinting that the creators were seeking more opportunities to make their mark in theaters. Now, industry journalist Matt Belloni confirms the move is official: Paramount will serve as the new studio home for the Duffers’ upcoming work. The decision, sources indicate, largely comes down to creative ambition and the big-screen experience.
Netflix has long been a home for innovative television and niche films, but its approach to theatrical releases is limited. Unless a project is positioned as an Oscar contender, helmed by a high-profile director, or generates immense pre-release hype, Netflix generally keeps its films in streaming-only formats.
For the Duffers, who have only released one theatrical film to date—the 2015 psychological thriller Hidden—the allure of Paramount’s established film infrastructure was a significant factor.
The Future of Upside Down Productions
Despite the move, the Duffers’ presence at Netflix will continue for the near term through their production company, Upside Down Productions. Fans can look forward to multiple upcoming projects, including an animated Stranger Things prequel titled Tales from ’85, which is slated for a 2026 release.
Another unannounced spinoff series is also in development. Beyond the Stranger Things universe, the brothers are executive producing the series The Boroughs and Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, both expected to arrive in 2026.
This extended Netflix slate ensures that while the Duffers are moving to Paramount for film projects, their television and streaming legacy remains intertwined with the platform they helped define.
Stranger Things: The Final Chapter
As the Duffers prepare to transition to Paramount, Stranger Things itself is nearing its epic conclusion. Season 5 will be released in three parts: Volume 1 on November 26, Volume 2 on December 25, and the finale on New Year’s Eve, each rolling out at 5 p.m. PT. The show’s storyline is set in the fall of 1987, picking up directly after the chaos of Season 4.
A synopsis released ahead of the premiere details the final conflict: “Hawkins is scarred by the opening of the Rifts [created in Season 4], and our heroes are united by a single goal: find and kill Vecna. But he has vanished—his whereabouts and plans unknown. Complicating their mission, the government has placed the town under military quarantine and intensified its hunt for Eleven, forcing her back into hiding. As the anniversary of Will’s disappearance approaches, so does a heavy, familiar dread. The final battle is looming—and with it, a darkness more powerful and more deadly than anything they’ve faced before. To end this nightmare, they’ll need everyone—the full party—standing together, one last time.”
Season 5 will consist of eight episodes, with titles including “The Crawl,” “The Vanishing of…,” “The Turnbow Trap,” “Sorcerer,” “Shock Jock,” “Escape from Camazotz,” “The Bridge,” and “The Rightside Up.”
The Duffers Reflect on Their Journey
Matt and Ross Duffer have been remarkably open about their creative process over the years. In a May interview with Netflix’s Tudum, the duo discussed a 25-page “mythology document” they assembled during the show’s first season, which explored the lore of the Upside Down. Ross Duffer noted, “The last remaining questions that are answered in that document, we’ve punted a couple of those to have some big reveals in Season 5. That’s really going to affect what Season 5 is about.”
The show’s cast also shared heartfelt messages as filming wrapped in December 2024. Ross Duffer reflected in an Instagram post, writing, “Everyone involved was determined to bring this story to a satisfying conclusion. They poured their hearts and souls into it, and we couldn’t be more proud of what they’ve accomplished.”
Expanding the Stranger Things Universe
Even as the core series reaches its end, the Stranger Things franchise is expanding across multiple media. The official Broadway production, Stranger Things: The First Shadow, opened on April 22, 2025, following rave reviews from its 2023 West End run, where it won Olivier Awards for Best Entertainment and Best Set Design.
The play, set in 1959 Hawkins, explores the younger versions of key characters and has been captured in a Netflix documentary.
Fans also have the animated prequel Tales from ’85 to anticipate, which will delve into Hawkins’ history and expand the narrative universe that Matt and Ross Duffer meticulously crafted over the last nine years.
Looking Ahead: Paramount and the Big Screen
The Duffers’ move to Paramount signals a new era for the creative duo. With Paramount’s robust film infrastructure and history of tentpole productions, the brothers will likely bring their signature blend of suspense, nostalgia, and supernatural thrills to a global theatrical audience.
While Netflix allowed them to redefine modern streaming television with Stranger Things, Paramount offers a platform where the brothers can experiment in blockbuster filmmaking.
According to Variety, the upcoming output from the Duffers will focus on tentpole films, a core strength of Paramount’s studio strategy. The transition may also give the brothers the opportunity to produce larger-scale original IPs that combine cinematic spectacle with the emotional storytelling that has defined their work on television.
A Legacy at Netflix
As the Duffers leave, their Netflix legacy is undeniable. Stranger Things has become a global phenomenon, influencing pop culture, fashion, and even music since its 2016 debut. The show’s mix of 1980s nostalgia, supernatural horror, and heartfelt friendships resonated with audiences worldwide, making it one of the streaming service’s most significant successes.
While fans will bid farewell to Hawkins with the final episodes, Matt and Ross Duffer are poised to continue shaping modern storytelling. Whether on the big screen at Paramount or through the upcoming animated and live-action spin-offs on Netflix, their storytelling is set to reach audiences for years to come.