'The creators of "Stranger Things" are transitioning to Paramount for their future projects'
The Duffer Brothers, creators of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, are set to move from the streaming giant to Paramount, following the expiration of their current deal in April 2026. This shift comes as part of a four-year exclusive creative deal with Paramount, under the new ownership of Skydance [1][2][4].
The new agreement will see the Duffers working across a variety of platforms, including films, linear TV, and streaming, and will focus on large-scale theatrical films, a departure from their primary focus at Netflix [2][3]. However, they plan to remain engaged with some ongoing Netflix projects, such as the animated Stranger Things: Tales of '85, scheduled for release next year, and other non-Stranger Things projects like The Boroughs and Something Very Bad is Going to Happen, both due in 2026 [5].
The move aligns with Paramount and Skydance's plans to emphasize theatrical releases and family-friendly four-quadrant movies. The strategic significance of the deal is highlighted by the Duffers' proven talent for high-quality, high-budget productions; Stranger Things season 4 reportedly cost around $30 million per episode [1][2].
The departure of the Duffers marks Netflix's first significant talent shakeup following the acquisition of Paramount by Skydance. Despite the move, the release of the Stranger Things show is not affected, with the series scheduled to release in three parts: on November 26, Christmas Day, and New Year's Eve.
It's worth noting that the Duffers' decision to leave Netflix was influenced by their desire for their films to be released in theaters. The brothers have only released one film to date, the 2015 psychological thriller Hidden.
This transition marks a strategic shift for the Duffers, expanding into theatrical films while continuing their TV and streaming work, fitting within Paramount’s renewed creative vision post-Skydance merger [1][2][3].
[1] https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/stranger-things-duffers-paramount-skydance-deal-1235299271/ [2] https://deadline.com/2022/05/duffers-netflix-paramount-deal-upside-down-stranger-things-1234982132/ [3] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/duffers-netflix-paramount-deal-1235311904/ [4] https://www.thewrap.com/duffers-stranger-things-creators-paramount-skydance-deal-netflix-expiration-2026-a482324 [5] https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/duffers-netflix-paramount-deal-upside-down-stranger-things-1234982132/
- The Duffers, known for Stranger Things on Netflix, are moving to Paramount, a shift led by Skydance's new ownership, aiming to expand into theatrical films.
- The Duffers' exclusive creative deal with Paramount encompasses various platforms like films, linear TV, and streaming services.
- Disney, through Paramount, and Netflix could potentially become rivals in streaming movies-and-tv entertainment with the Duffers working under both brands.
- Star Wars and other space-themed projects, being family-friendly four-quadrant movies loved by audiences worldwide, might be an interesting avenue for the Duffers under Paramount.
