Netflix Orders Stranger Things Prequel Other Worlds
The live-action series, set in the 1950s, is slated to debut on Netflix in 2028 with Kate Trefry as showrunner.
Updated on Nov. 6, 2026 in Television
Netflix has ordered Other Worlds: A Stranger Things Adventure, a live-action prequel to the Stranger Things series set in the 1950s. Kate Trefry will serve as showrunner and co-creator alongside the Duffer brothers, and the series is slated to debut on Netflix in 2028.
Why it matters
The series expands the Stranger Things franchise backward in time, extending a property that began on Netflix in 2016 and concluded with its fifth and final season in 2025. It also positions the franchise to continue beyond its original storyline through a new creative team.
The original Stranger Things debuted on Netflix in 2016 and wrapped its fifth and final season in 2025, while the new prequel is slated for 2028 and its first three episodes will be directed by Joe Wright. Additional production details, including a premiere date, have not been announced.
The players
Netflix
Netflix is the streaming service that ordered the prequel and released the teaser trailer for the series.
Kate Trefry
Kate Trefry is the writer and producer who will serve as showrunner and co-creator of the new series.
The Duffer Brothers
The Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, created the original Stranger Things series and co-create the prequel.
Joe Wright
Joe Wright is the filmmaker set to direct the first three episodes of the new series.
The details
Netflix ordered the prequel and announced it on Stranger Things Day, releasing a teaser trailer alongside the news. The series will be set before both the original show and the stage play Stranger Things: The First Shadow.
Timeline
2016: Stranger Things debuts on Netflix.
2025: Stranger Things wraps its fifth and final season.
2028: Other Worlds is slated to debut on Netflix.
Industry Dynamics
The prequel extends a franchise that began with the 2016 Netflix debut of Stranger Things and ended with its fifth season in 2025, reflecting the streaming industry's practice of returning to established hit properties. Netflix's decision to continue the brand with a new showrunner and creative team follows the pattern of franchise extension seen across the streaming business.
The series will stream exclusively on Netflix, so viewers will need a Netflix subscription to watch it when it debuts in 2028. No premiere month has been announced, so viewers should watch for further Netflix announcements about release timing.
The takeaway
Franchise prequels allow streaming services to revisit established fan favorites with new creative teams, giving viewers new stories without requiring them to know the original's ending. Readers who follow the franchise can watch for the 2028 Netflix debut.
Further reading
Explore more Television coverage to see how streaming prequels and franchise extensions are shaping the industry.
