Netflix greenlights a ‘Stranger Things’ spin-off series to help build a franchise
By Daybreak Chmielewski and Lisa Richwine
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – Netflix Inc mentioned on Wednesday it’s creating a spin-off of science fiction collection “Stranger Issues” because the streaming service works to construct its largest English-language hit right into a broad leisure franchise.
The brand new collection can be based mostly on an authentic thought from Matt and Ross Duffer, the twins who created “Stranger Issues,” Netflix mentioned in a press release. No particulars on the story or characters have been supplied.
Netflix additionally introduced a stage play set on this planet of “Stranger Issues.”
The supernatural thriller starring Winona Ryder and David Harbour has set viewing information for Netflix, surpassing the Regency-era drama “Bridgerton” as the corporate’s most-watched English-language present.
“Stranger Issues” reverberated by way of the cultural zeitgeist when it debuted in 2016 and turned then-12-year-old Millie Bobby Brown into a world star. The newest season propelled Kate Bush’s tune “Operating Up That Hill” to the highest of the iTunes and Spotify charts 37 years after its authentic launch.
The fourth season concluded with the ultimate two episodes final week, briefly crashing the Netflix app as followers rushed to view it. The collection has logged 1.15 billion hours in viewing time on Netflix, behind solely South Korean drama “Squid Sport.”
“One of many the reason why ‘Stranger Issues’ has actually damaged out in the best way that it has is that there is a universality on the heart of it,” mentioned Matthew Thunell, the Netflix vp who first learn the script and advocated for the collection. “It truly is concerning the power of friendship, how friendship triumphs over evil.”
The collection is the primary that Netflix has sought to develop as a standard leisure franchise, whose characters and tales traverse movie, tv, video games and client merchandise. Its reputation took Netflix abruptly – “candidly we might by no means have predicted what ‘Stranger Issues’ has turn into,” mentioned Thunell.
Because the present’s viewers expanded past so-called style nerds, or science-fiction followers, to incorporate adults captivated by its Nineteen Eighties popular culture references, Netflix started considering methods to increase the story by way of spin-offs and merchandise.
That resulted in a variety of “Stranger Issues” tie-ins that embrace a Surfer Boy pineapple and jalapeno frozen pizza at Walmart and a Magic 8 ball toy from Hasbro. Followers even have been capable of take part in mock sleep research at a Hawkins Nationwide Laboratory attraction in New York, San Francisco and London.
“We’re ranging from scratch and so it offers us plenty of freedom to be progressive and take a look at new issues,” mentioned Josh Simon, Netflix’s vp of client merchandise.
The brand new collection is a part of a manufacturing take care of the Duffers, who may even develop a live-action TV adaptation of Japanese manga and anime collection “Demise Be aware,” amongst different tasks.
(Reporting by Daybreak Chmielewski; Extra reporting by Lisa Richwine; Modifying by Richard Chang)
