Whether you liked the Stranger Things finale or were hoping for a different ending, much like Matthew Modine, animated spin-off Tales From '85 is set to appeal to fans as "a lost season" of the main Netflix series, explained showrunner Eric Robles. A few weeks after fans got to say goodbye to the Hawkins party in an emotional, if divisive, conclusion, Netflix has released a first trailer for the animated series, which takes place between the events of season 2 and 3.
A snow-filled Hawkins is the pristine setting for a new adventure as the gang faces a terrifying Upside Down creature they've never encountered before.
While it'll be less dark than Stranger Things — both visually and thematically — Tales From '85 taps into the more intimate tone of the first few seasons, back "when the kids weren't trying to save the world — they were just trying to save the town," Robles told Empire.
"You could easily take this and make it the live-action version," Robles also said. "We wanted to go back to Hawkins and feel like a lost season."
Despite unfolding in a wintery setting, Tales From '85 counts Steven Spielberg's summer horror Jaws as one of its inspirations.
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"It's winter time in Hawkins. The whole town's covered in this ocean of snow. And that brings new dangers," Robles teased. "I'm a huge fan of Jaws and this became our version."
Robles also serves as executive producer alongside Stranger Things creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, as well as Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen, who previously executive produced the main series under their 21 Laps banner.
The show's most beloved characters are all set to return in the animated series, though voiced by a brand new cast — Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Luca Diaz as Mike, Benjamin Plessala as Will, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Elisha 'EJ' Williams as Lucas, and Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max.
The voice ensemble is rounded out by Brett Gipson as Hopper and Jeremy Jordan as Steve Harrington, with Marty Supreme star Odessa A'zion, Lou Diamond Phillips, and Janeane Garofalo cast in undisclosed roles.
Stranger Things: Tales From '85 is released on Netflix on 23 April.
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Stefania is a freelance writer specialising in TV and movies. After graduating from City University, London, she covered LGBTQ+ news and pursued a career in entertainment journalism, with her work appearing in outlets including Little White Lies, The Skinny, Radio Times and Digital Spy.
Her beats are horror films and period dramas, especially if fronted by queer women. She can argue why Scream is the best slasher in four languages (and a half).
