Are the Duffer Brothers saying goodbye to Netflix?
Netflix has given the world a number of amazing shows. But a show that truly made Netflix what it is will always be Stranger Things. The creators of the show, Matt and Ross Duffer, are geniuses whose vision gave the platform its most liked show. But ever though without the Duffer Brothers?
Sounds unthinkable, right… especially for the fans of Stranger Things. Well, the truth is that the creative duo behind the streaming giant’s biggest cultural phenomenon are reportedly packing their bags for Paramount. Yes, you heard that right. Now that is where a new exclusive deal could shape the next chapter of their careers.
Reports from various outlets earlier this week revealed that Matt and Ross Duffer were in talks with Paramount Global, which is now under David Ellison’s Skydance. By Friday, media company Puck’s Matthew Belloni confirmed on Twitter that the decision had been made and the Duffers are heading to Paramount.
While there is good news that more content will soon be coming from the creators, for Netflix, this marks a potential turning point. The Duffer brothers are more than just showrunners. They are the brilliant minds who proved Netflix could create a global hit that defined an era of streaming.
The Duffers’ ambition has grown with every season of Stranger Things. What began in 2016 as a small-town sci-fi horror with a throwback to the ’80s soon ballooned into a blockbuster-scale production. By season four, it had become a worldwide phenomenon. The “small town” of Hawkins became the backdrop for some of Netflix’s most iconic imagery. It did not just open new paths for the case but also for the makers. With that kind of scope, it is no surprise the brothers want to move toward the world of tentpole films.
But here is the catch: Netflix has long had a complicated relationship with theatrical releases. The platform occasionally gives films limited runs. Although it rarely agrees to the kind of exclusive theatrical window that major chains demand. The biggest example of this is Greta Gerwig’s Narnia deal, which guarantees at least two weeks on IMAX screens before hitting Netflix. This deal was particularly considered groundbreaking and a landmark in the history of Netflix precisely because it is so rare. Sadly, for the Duffers, that theatrical component became the dealbreaker.
But the good news for viewers is that the impact of this deal will not be immediate. Stranger Things is still tied to Netflix, with its fifth and final season arriving in three parts later this year. The Duffers also have two Netflix shows lined up for 2026, so the platform will not lose its touch overnight.
Still, their departure raises questions about what comes after Hawkins. Netflix practically built its reputation on Stranger Things. The show proved original streaming series could dominate pop culture in a way previously reserved for network television or blockbuster films. Losing the Duffer Brothers means losing the architects of that success. Especially in this time and age, where the competition for creators is fiercer than ever.
Paramount, meanwhile, played a really nice bet here, as it is slowly gaining storytellers with proven global appeal. The ones who already have a built-in fanbase and a flair for spectacle. For the Duffers, it is a chance to graduate from streaming kings to theatrical auteurs. For Netflix, it is a reminder that even its brightest stars may not stay forever.
The upside for fans? The Duffer Brothers are not finished with Netflix yet. The Hawkins saga will wrap on the streamer, but their next act may play out on the biggest screens possible.