Stranger Thingsco-creators Matt and Ross Duffer have just taken the biggest step of their careers to date. The Duffer Brothers started their careers writing the horror movieHidden, as well as penning four episodes of the science-fiction mystery seriesWayward Pines, before shooting to global prominence with Netflix ratings juggernautStranger Things.
The show has become a pop culture phenomenon and has become Netflix’s flagship show, with record-breaking viewership. Now, withStranger Thingsseason 5set to release at the end of 2025, the epic science-fiction horror saga will be brought to a thrilling close, and the Duffer Brothers' careers are set to expand in a new direction.
PerVariety, the Duffer Brothers are set to leave Netflix in 2026, following the conclusion ofStranger Things, and they have inked a brand-new four-year deal with Paramount. Upcoming projects are set to be developed through the brothers' production company, Upside Down Pictures, and will include movies, television, and streaming projects.
The deal will take effect after the Duffers' partnership with Netflix ends in April 2026.“Ambitious”and“large-scale theatrical films”are expected to be a crucial piece of the Duffers' collaboration with Paramount, where they will be reuniting with key creatives they previously worked with at Netflix. Read the Duffers' statement about the new deal below:
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining the Paramount family. To be part of that mission is not just exciting – it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream. And to do so at a studio with such a storied Hollywood legacy is a privilege we don’t take lightly. We’re also excited to reunite with our friends Cindy [Holland] and Matt [Thunell], who were among the very first to believe in us and an unusual little script we wrote that became Stranger Things. They took a chance on us in 2015, and they’re taking a chance again – we can’t wait to create new stories together.”
What This Means For The Duffer Brothers' Career Trajectory
It is an exciting time for the brothers, and the fact thatStranger Thingsis one of the best TV shows of all timegives them freedom in future projects. Wherever they wind up, they are bound to have exciting projects to work on, but the fact that they have signed a deal with Paramount promises big things for both parties.
Stranger Thingsseason 5, Volume I drops on Netflix on August 04, 2025.
As one of the up-and-coming streaming platforms, Paramount is constantly looking for ways to compete with Netflix, Disney+, and Prime Video, and having the Duffer Brothers' projects available on Paramount+ and in theaters is bound to be a huge coup for the company, and could see a big boost in their current catalog.
Along with the benefits this brings to Paramount+, the Duffers will be able to release blockbuster movies for a full theatrical run. This is not an opportunity afforded by Netflix, which either releases its movies directly on their streaming platforms, or only in select theaters for a very limited window.
Our Take On The Duffer Brothers' Move To Paramount
At the moment, Paramount is producing strong content, but there does seem to be an overreliance onTaylor Sheridan’s shows on Paramount+, and bringing the creators ofStranger Thingsinto the fold is going to make Paramount’s position very strong moving forward, ensuring more quality, original content in the process.
This is an exciting venture for the Duffer Brothers, and for Paramount, and shows the company is flexing its muscles following the Skydance merger. What the brothers have planned for their next project remains to be seen, but if it comes anywhere close to the success ofStranger Things, Paramount will consider this a hugely profitable deal.
Stranger Things
Cast
Stranger Things is a Netflix series set in the 1980s, where the mysterious disappearance of a young boy leads a small town to uncover secret experiments and supernatural forces. A significant focus is on a peculiar girl who may hold the key to the unfolding mystery.
