“Stranger Things” Writers Deny Rumors That Millie Bobby Brown Turned Down Millions for a Spin-Off

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Stranger Things season 4 (Volume 2, especially!) definitely hit the right melody — Vecna’s curse reference intended — with fans. But even before the latest installment of the ’80s sci-fi show proved to be a success, Netflix hinted that Stranger Things would continue into a spin-off series.

The first sign that Netflix aimed to expand upon the hit series came in September 2021, when the streamer’s co-CEO Ted Sarandos teased plans for Stranger Things during the Code Conference. According to Deadline, Sarandos said, “Franchises are good, but what you want are hits.” The media outlet claimed he hinted at “spin-offs” and that the series is a “franchise being born.”

Then, in February 2022, Matt and Ross Duffer — a.k.a the masterminds behind Stanger Things — shared that season 5 will be the final season (😥) of the beloved show. However, the pair did give us some hope that it won’t truly be the end, writing, “There are still many more exciting stories to tell within the world of Stranger Things; new mysteries, new adventures, new unexpected heroes.”

Finally, in July 2022, Netflix somewhat confirmed the good news. The streamer took to Twitter to announce, “The Duffer Brothers have formed Upside Down Pictures, a new production company through which they will develop film and television projects as part of their overall deal with Netflix.” Named after the Stranger Things alternate dimension, the production company was revealed to be working on a Duffer Brother original ST spin-off, but also, “A new stage play set within the world and mythology of Stranger Things.”

While we don’t have all the deets yet on what’s brewing for our Hawkin’s heroes — old and new — here’s what we know so far about the Stranger Things spin-off, including cast, plot, premiere, and breaking news.

What is the Stranger Things spin-off about?

With so many different directions the Duffer Brothers could take with the plot of the Stranger Things spin-off, it’s too early to tell what the new show will be about. However, the team is certain about what they don’t want in a follow-up show.

“I’ve read these rumors that there’s gonna be an Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) spin-off, that there’s gonna be a Steve (Joe Keery) and Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) spin-off or that it’s another number,” the Duffer Brothers said on the Happy Sad Confused podcast in July 2022. “That’s not interesting to me because we’ve done all that. We’ve spent I don’t know how many hours exploring all of that. So it’s very different.”

On March 22, unconfirmed reports from The Sun and Daily Mail claimed that Millie Bobby Brown had turned down a multi-million (!) deal to star in a spin-off about her character, due to wanting to “branch out” in her career. But the Stranger Things writers quickly debunked the rumors on Twitter.

“Yeah there’s nothing in this article that is true. Don’t know why we have to keep debunking this rumor but get those clicks you guys!!,” they wrote in a response to Daily Mail’s Tweet about the article.

In July 2022, the Duffer Brothers hinted that the spin-off will be attached to the original series by “storytelling sensibility” and that not even Netflix knows what they have planned for the new series. But one lucky cast member is in the know about the new show. “Somehow Finn Wolfhard — who is one crazy smart kid — correctly guessed what it was going to be about,” Ross and Matt wrote in an email to Variety.

They added, “But aside from Finn, no one else knows!”

And while the Duffers plan to stay heavily involved, the brothers shared their hopes of teaming up with another creative power to bring their vision to life.

“The idea, ultimately, is to pass the baton to someone else, someone who’s hopefully really talented and passionate,” Matt said. “Even the idea of Ross and I, say, doing a pilot and leaving it, it just feels silly to me. You really need to be there from beginning to end. I think we need to find a partner to help us with that.”

Who is in the cast of the Stranger Things spin-off?

We hate to see it – no casting decisions on the Stranger Things spin-off have been made available (but we’re all ears over here at Seventeen!). There have also been no revelations on whether any of the OG cast members will be returning for the spin-off.

However, David Harbour has made it clear that he thinks his character Jim Hopper could “exist independent of me,” saying to GQ, “If they wanna go back in time, forward in time … I’d love to see another actor play Hopper, and see what they can bring to it.”

And who does he feel should play a younger version of his character, Jim Hopper, should the opportunity arise? Why none other than Euphoria star Jacob Elordi. “He could pull off being as handsome as I was at 20,” Harbour said.

Is there a release date for the Stranger Things spin-off series?

Given that the series has not started filming yet and seemingly hasn’t even begun the casting process, there is no set debut date for the Stranger Things spin-off. Since the Duffer Brothers revealed in an interview with Collider that they don't want to shoot season 5 of Stranger Things at the same time as they film the spin-off, fans can expect to see the conclusion of ST before the new series comes out. Given that season 5 of Stranger Things probably won’t premiere until at least 2024, we’re betting the spin-off won’t debut until 2025.

Who’s involved in the Stranger Things play?

While no plot details or casting has been made public, Netflix did write in a July 2022 Tweet that Sonia Friedman, Stephen Daldry, and Netflix will produce the play, with Daldry also taking on the role of director.

What other projects do the Duffer Brothers have on deck?

This dynamic duo will be certainly busy, with three projects coming up in addition to the two Stranger Things franchise expansions. Netflix announced on Twitter that Upside Down Pictures will be putting out “an all-new live-action television adaptation of the renowned Japanese manga and anime series Death Note.”

In addition, Ross and Matt will also be taking on an original series idea by creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) as well as “a series adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub’s The Talisman to be created by Curtis Gwinn.”

Fun fact: Lucas was reading King and Straub’s The Talisman to Max when we see her in the hospital in the Stranger Things 4 finale. Love to see that ’lil Easter egg inclusion in ST!

Want to know more about Stranger Things 4, including exclusive cast interviews and fan theories? Stay tuned to Seventeen Watch Club for the latest on the series.

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