The ‘Stranger Things’ creators have finalized an overall film and television agreement with the studio, focusing on tentpole films; will continue involvement in several Netflix projects despite a planned April 2026 exit.
Matt and Ross Duffer have finalized their overall film and television deal with Paramount, according to Variety. The four-year exclusive agreement will see the Brothers exit Netflix in April 2026. The duo will still be involved in all upcoming Netflix projects in development, including Stranger Things Season 5.
“We couldn’t be more thrilled to be joining the Paramount family,” Matt and Ross Duffer said in a statement. “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.”
“Our time at Netflix has been incredible,” continued the Duffers. “Ted [Sarandos], Bela [Bajaria], and Peter [Friedlander] have given us the kind of creative freedom and support that artists dream of but so rarely receive. A decade in, they are family. 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.’ And we look forward to building out the future of ‘Stranger Things’ together – there are many more stories to tell beyond Hawkins, and we can’t wait to share them.”
All upcoming Paramount projects, which will focus on “ambitious” and “large-scale theatrical films,” will fall under the Duffers’ Upside Down Pictures umbrella.
The deal has reunited the creative duo with Cindy Holland, Paramount’s new head of streaming, who originally greenlit Stranger Things at Netflix, and Matt Thunell, president of Paramount Television.
Journalist, antique shop owner, aspiring gemologist—L'Wren brings a diverse perspective to animation, where every frame reflects her varied passions.
