New ‘Stranger Things’ Trailer Released. Hawkins is heading to the drawing board—literally. Just when fans thought they had finally escaped the Upside Down after the emotional live-action series finale, Netflix is pulling us back in. The streaming giant has officially announced that the first teaser trailer for the highly anticipated animated spin-off, “Stranger Things: Tales from ’85,” will be released tomorrow, February 2, 2026.
The announcement has sent shockwaves through the fandom, promising a fresh look at a series that intends to capture the nostalgic magic of Saturday morning cartoons. Stranger Things Instagram just posted: “ʍoɹɹoɯoʇ ɹǝsɐǝʇ”
Updated February 2nd, 2026 – Trailer is now out, and you can watch below! “Something from the Upside Down must’ve survived… Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 premieres April 23, only on Netflix.”
What is ‘Tales from ’85’?
Set during the biting winter of 1985—slotted chronologically between the events of Season 2 and Season 3—this 3D animated series explores a “lost chapter” in Hawkins history. While the main show has concluded, “Tales from ’85” allows creators Matt and Ross Duffer to expand the lore without the physical constraints of live-action filming.
“With animation, there’s really no limit,” Ross Duffer shared. “Eric [Robles] and his team can just go wild… and they have.”
Netflix has announced that the series, set in the Stranger Things universe between Seasons 2 and 3, will debut on April 23. The series features characters fans already know and love — but with a twist.
“It’s got the thrill of being young, being a kid, and going on these thrilling adventures. But then there’s this essence of real danger, real stakes,” Robles, who also produces the project via Flying Bark Productions (What If…?), tells Tudum.
He adds, “This is one of the rarest opportunities that we’re ever going to get to be with the main characters. We get to go back in time and really just hang out with these kids.”
The Return of the Party (With a Twist)
The series brings back the core group we grew up with: Eleven, Mike, Will, Lucas, Dustin, and Max. However, since the original actors have long outgrown their middle-school voices, a new cast of voice talent is stepping into the roles:
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven
- Luca Diaz as Mike
- Ben Plessala as Will
- Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max
- Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper
The series also introduces a mysterious new character named Nikki Baxter, a “tinker” who reportedly joins the group’s monster-hunting efforts.
What to Expect in Tomorrow’s Trailer
Based on early production details from showrunner Eric Robles (Glitch Techs), the trailer is expected to showcase a stylized, high-quality CG look inspired by ’80s aesthetic but with modern “Arcane-level” polish.
Fans should keep an eye out for “Upside Down spores,” and a new paranormal mystery that the Duffers tease will prove “nothing is quite as they thought it was.” The stakes are surprisingly high for an animated project, with the production team hinting that the tone will maintain the franchise’s signature blend of heart and horror, where “not everyone might survive.”
Check back tomorrow morning to watch the full teaser trailer right here. “Get your flashlight, get your backpack, because it’s going to be amazing.”
