# Netflix Announces Stranger Things Prequel Series Other Worlds

The new live-action spin-off explores 1950s origins of the hit franchise.

- **Source:** [ANSA – Top News](https://www.ansa.it)
- **Published:** 2026-11-06
- **Topic:** [entertainment](https://brifing.si/c/entertainment)
- **Original article:** <https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cultura/tv/2026/11/06/netflix-annuncia-serie-spin-off-di-stranger-things-adventure-other-worlds_feaefc3f-694d-4817-88a1-a80bb4a8be60.html>
- **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/2ae70013-8ee7-44f1-ab4a-67be2482c327

## New Prequel Series Announced

Netflix has officially confirmed a new live-action spin-off titled Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure. Scheduled for a 2028 release, the series serves as a prequel set in the 1950s. Production for this ambitious project will take place in New Mexico, marking a significant expansion of the original supernatural franchise universe.

## Creative Leadership Team

The Duffer Brothers, creators of the original series, will serve as co-creators for the new project. They have appointed Kate Trefry as showrunner, who previously wrote for the original series and the stage play. Acclaimed director Joe Wright, known for Atonement, is set to direct the first three episodes of the series.

## Setting and Thematic Clues

The series shifts the narrative focus to the 1950s, moving away from the timeline of the original show. While plot details remain strictly confidential, the creators have dropped hints regarding UFOs, aliens, and space. The cryptic directive to look at the sky suggests a departure toward cosmic mystery and extraterrestrial-themed science fiction.

## Production and Executive Team

Executive production is handled by the Duffer Brothers through Upside Down Pictures alongside Shawn Levy and his company 21 Laps. Additional executive producers include Paul Dichter, Shelley Meals, Andrea Sperling, and Pavlina Hatoupis. This collaborative team aims to maintain the core mystery and emotional depth that defined the original Stranger Things series.

## Franchise Success Context

Stranger Things first debuted on Netflix in 2016 and quickly became a global cultural phenomenon. The original series achieved massive viewership, totaling 1.2 billion views across its first four seasons. With the final episode of the main series airing earlier this year, this spin-off represents a strategic move to sustain audience engagement.

## Strategic Vision for Expansion

Jinny Howe, Netflix's head of scripted series, emphasized that the project aims to offer fans a new dimension to explore. By shifting the setting to the 1950s, the production team intends to introduce new heroes and villains while retaining the signature blend of horror and wonder that characterized the original show's success.

## Creative Artistic Direction

Showrunner Kate Trefry expressed that the project is a dream come true, highlighting the privilege of working with the Duffer Brothers and Joe Wright. The team is focused on delivering a narrative that is both innovative and emotionally resonant, promising to break hearts while maintaining the mystery that fans expect from the franchise.

## Future Industry Impact

The announcement of Other Worlds confirms Netflix's commitment to building long-term intellectual property franchises. By leveraging the established Stranger Things brand, the platform aims to bridge the gap between the original series and future content. Industry observers will monitor how this prequel format performs compared to the massive success of the original.

## Sources covering this story

- https://www.ansa.it/sito/notizie/cultura/tv/2026/11/06/netflix-annuncia-serie-spin-off-di-stranger-things-adventure-other-worlds_feaefc3f-694d-4817-88a1-a80bb4a8be60.html — 

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_Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._
