'Stranger Things' Animated Series in the works at Netflix

by Darian Scalamoni

    Though we're quickly approaching the end of our time in Hawkins through live-action, Netflix is still very much staying in the Stranger Things business. According to a report from Deadline, the streaming giant is working on an animated series centering around the popular original series in the realm of possibility related to old-school Saturday morning cartoons. 

    Netflix had partnered with the series creators, The Duffer Brothers to release a series of animated shorts that were inspired by Stranger Things stories last year which released on YouTube which might be a sign of what to expect from this upcoming series (above is a still from one of the shorts and below is the video posted). The esteemed original series debuted in 2016 creating stars out of the young cast that was led by Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin and Noah Schnapp. Other cast members stocks have risen since their series debuts including David Harbour, Sadie Sink, Natalia Dyer, Joe Keery, Maya Hawke and Charlie Heaton with the series following residents of a fictional "Amblin-esque" town where paranormal events and an alternate alien dimension plagued Hawkins, Indiana from "The Upside Down."

    "We've always dreamed of an animated Stranger Things in the vein of the Saturday morning cartoons that we grew up loving, and to see this dream realized has been absolutely thrilling. We couldn't be more blown away by Eric Robles and his team have come up with, the scripts and artwork are incredible, and we can't wait to share more with you! The adventure continues." Ross and Matt Duffer shared the following quotes in a statement following the news of this series being in active development with Eric Robles serving as executive producer along with Flying Bark Productions.

    The Duffer Brothers will also executive produce along with Shawn Levy, who produces Stranger Things. The creative sibling duo and their production company, Upside Down Pictures signed a deal with Netflix last Summer with plans for plenty of Stranger Things projects including a stage play. They're also scheduled to make a new live-action film of Death Note as well as adapt the Stephen King novel, The Talisman into a feature.