what will the duffer brothers do next
The Duffer brothers’ next chapter is a mix of confirmed projects (new deal with Paramount, more Stranger Things universe plans) and some still‑evolving ideas, so the future is partly known and partly speculative. Most signs point to them juggling a Stranger Things spinoff, franchise‑style movies, and new series under their own banner, Upside Down Pictures.
Big picture: post-Stranger Things
- The main Stranger Things series ended with its final season released at the end of 2025, closing the core Hawkins storyline.
- Matt and Ross Duffer have been clear in recent interviews that they see this as the end of that specific story, not the end of the universe or their collaboration.
The Paramount deal (starting 2026)
- In August 2025, the Duffers signed a four‑year exclusive deal with Paramount that kicks in once their Netflix agreement ends in April 2026.
- The deal covers films, TV, and streaming with an emphasis on large‑scale theatrical projects and potential franchises, all produced through their company Upside Down Pictures.
More Stranger Things universe
- They have a Stranger Things spinoff in active development, described as featuring new characters, a new town, a new world, and a new mythology rather than revisiting the Hawkins gang.
- In early 2026 comments, they said they were heading “back to work” on the spinoff right after the series finale, and hinted at exploring story threads teased in the finale (like a mysterious object linked to Vecna) without re‑treading the Mind Flayer mythos.
Other announced / long‑running ideas
- Through Upside Down Pictures, the Duffers had previously attached themselves to projects like a live‑action Death Note series and an adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub’s The Talisman , as part of their broader slate beyond Stranger Things.
- They have also talked about additional Stranger Things ‑related stories (including in other media like books) as ways of “building out the future of Stranger Things beyond Hawkins.”
What seems most likely next
- Near term (2026–2027), the most realistic “next things” are:
- Writing and early production on at least one Stranger Things spinoff project.
- Developing one or more big theatrical films under their Paramount deal, aiming for franchise potential.
- Medium term, some of the Netflix‑era development projects (like Death Note or The Talisman) could reappear in new forms, but how they fit alongside the Paramount partnership is not yet fully clear from public information.
Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.