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If it weren’t for the Duffer brothers, the world would still be oblivious to the secrets the Hawkins Christmas lights hold. But like every good thing comes to an end, the Duffer brothers’ Netflix deal is coming to a close in April 2026. However, this calls for the beginning of something new, as the new Paramount owned by Skydance confirms their arrival alongside their Upside Down Pictures label.

Paramount and the Duffer brothers have struck a four-year exclusive deal to produce feature films, television, and streaming projects (via Deadline). The Paramount deal begins at the end of their Netflix deal, concluding in April 2026. But fear not, even at the closing segment of their Netflix agreement, they remain just as engaged with Stranger Things and other ongoing projects in the works at the streaming giant.

But with Paramount, the Duffer brothers are not just going to produce. They will additionally direct and write feature films, original series, and TV for Paramount Pictures, Paramount Direct-to-Consumer, and Paramount Television. The partnership under the David Ellison-led Paramount marks a strategic alignment, given the Duffer brothers’ existing connections with key executives Cindy Holland and Matt Thunell from their time at Netflix.

With Hilary Leavitt at the helm of Upside Down Pictures, the Duffers are set to leverage this deal because, clearly, this one’s a match made in Hollywood. Speaking of the Paramount deal, Ross and Matt Duffer said, “We couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining the Paramount family. David, Josh, and Dana are passionate about bringing bold, original films to the big screen.” To finally become a part of that mission now feels like a dream come true for them.

And what better studio than the one that has an enduring legacy in Hollywood? The Duffer brothers further expressed excitement at the opportunity to reunite with Holland and Thunell, who were involved incredibly with 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,” they added.

They also seized the opportunity to extol Netflix for allowing them the creative agency many can only dream of. The Duffer brothers dubbed them a “family,” the one that they have been with for a decade now. “We’re excited to continue collaborating – not only on the upcoming release of Stranger Things 5, but also on shows we’re deeply proud to be producing, including Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen and The Boroughs,” they said.

But for those shedding a tear or two, the Duffer brothers promised a future for the Stranger Things universe beyond Hawkins. Meanwhile, Holland, who serves as Paramount’s Chair of Direct-to-Consumer, chimed in, saying, “I’ve had the privilege of knowing Matt and Ross for over a decade and worked with them from their earliest stages through their deserving global success.” Consequently, she can’t wait for the moment they get to reunite and turn a new page for Hollywood.

Meanwhile, Paramount Motion Pictures co-heads Dana Goldberg and Josh Greenstein revealed to the press last week that they intend to release 15-20 movies annually. And with the Duffer brothers joining forces, this marks the beginning of something monumental in the future.