Stranger Things‘ Season 5 finale is looming right around the corner, and with it, a fond farewell to the Hawkins crew we've come to know and love over the last decade. Never fear, however, because Eleven, Mike, Dustin et al are returning in animated form for Stranger Things: Tales from '85, the first TV spinoff of Netflix's record-breaking hit sci-fi horror show.
They'll be voiced by an all-new cast of younger actors, with Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Benjamin Plessala as Will, and Brett Gipson as Hopper. Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo, and Lou Diamond Phillips also voice undisclosed parts.
Revealing a first look at Stranger Things: Tales from '85 today, Entertainment Weekly confirm that the animated series, which is brought to life by Flying Bark Productions (What If…?) is set between Stranger Things Season 2 and 3, and creatively uses “loopholes” from the show to explain why Hawkins is still under siege from the Upside Down despite being set after Eleven closes the gate.
Principle showrunner and executive producer Eric Robles (Fanboy & Chum Chum, Glitch Techs, The X's) explains more:
“I dissected the show, looking for any loopholes. I found a few of 'em […] And then I found this one idea that I was just like, ‘Oh s—! I think that's it.'” What is this big idea? “Hawkins Lab science meets Upside Down matter,” he teases, while noting of the closed gateway, “There's a chain reaction to the creatures that are in our world and the things that are popping up.”
Robles also clarifies that, despite being animated, Tales from '85 isn't going to hold back on the horror, and will feature “a lot of freaking cool monsters”:
It's got its bite to it. The stakes are real for the kids. It's not Scooby-Doo, man. It's not like, ‘Oh, well, it'll be fine.' We don't know if it'll be fine.”
Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer oversee Tales from '85, with further plot details and release date still under wraps. Stay tuned for updates, and scroll on for Entertainment Weekly's new look:
Credit: COURTESY OF NETFLIX
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
COURTESY OF NETFLIX
