Netflix Officially Brings Eleven Back This Week For New Stranger Things Series

Published Sep 15, 2026, 5:45 PM EDT Adrienne Tyler is a movies & TV features writer, with a focus on horror. She has written for Netflix, FanSided, & more. She was a regular guest on the Netfreaks podcast and was a YouTuber at some point. Guillermo del Toro said “hi” to her once. Months after the ending of Stranger Things, Netflix is officially bringing Eleven back in a couple of days for its new series in the franchise. The list of Netflix original TV shows covers a variety of genres, but its most popular shows come from the worlds of fantasy and sci-fi, sometimes even both. One of them is Stranger Things, one of Netflix’s biggest hits to date, and now widely regarded as one of the best TV shows of all time, despite its underwhelming finale. Throughout five seasons, Stranger Things followed Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and her friends and chosen family as they uncovered the darkest, most disturbing secrets of their town of Hawkins, Indiana, and Hawkins Lab. Although Stranger Things gave closure to Eleven, Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower), the Upside Down, and the experiments of Hawkins Lab, there’s still more to explore in Hawkins. As a result, Netflix released its first Stranger Things spinoff, Tales from ‘85, in April 2026. Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 is an animated TV show developed by Eric Robles and Jennifer Muro, and it’s set in the winter of 1985. This means that Tales from ‘85 is set between seasons 2 and 3 of Stranger Things, which has proven to be equal parts an interesting place in the timeline and a very tricky one. Just a couple of months after its debut, Tales from ‘85 is coming back with its second season, and it’s bringing Eleven (voiced by Brooklyn Davey Norstedt) back one more time. Eleven Is Coming Back In Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 Season 2 Image via Netflix Given its place in the Stranger Things timeline, Tales from ‘85 is set after Eleven’s return, the Mind Flayer’s defeat, and Hopper legally adopting Eleven at the end of season 2, and before they deal with the Russian lab underneath Starcourt Mall in season 3. In season 1, Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Max, Lucas, and Will faced never-before-seen monsters from the Upside Down, with the help of their new friend and ally, Nikki Baxter (Odessa A’zion). None of the main actors from Stranger Things voice their characters in Tales from ‘85. At the end of Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 season 1, the Hawkins crew managed to get rid of the new monsters, but the final scene left the door wide open for a second season. Luckily, viewers won’t have to wait long to see what’s next for Eleven and her friends in the winter of 1985, as season 2 of Tales from ‘85 comes out on Netflix on September 17, 2026. Tales from ‘85 is bringing back the same main cast as season 1, meaning there will be more of Eleven. How Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 Season 2 Is Adding To Eleven’s Story Image via Netflix As mentioned above, the biggest challenge that Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85 is facing is fitting its events into the show’s canon timeline without impacting seasons 3, 4, and 5 of the main show. This, unfortunately, makes some things about Tales from ‘85 predictable and disappointing, such as the new monsters that viewers know never appear in the main show and even Nikki herself, who, at some point, will disappear from the lives of Eleven and her friends. On the brighter side, Tales from ‘85 can add to Eleven’s story without changing the rest of her journey. Season 1 of Tales from ‘85 already gave hints of how Eleven and Max’s friendship started, as well as of how she adapted to a “normal” family life with Hopper. The first episodes also saw Eleven becoming more confident in her powers and how to use them, which will surely continue throughout season 2. The most intriguing thing about season 2 of Tales from ‘85 is that it seems to be leaning more into supernatural horror with a ghost-like villain, which is unlike anything the Hawkins crew faced in the main show. Surely, the trailers could be misleading the audience and the ghost will have an Earthly (or Upside Down-y) explanation, but this experience will surely add to Eleven’s confidence and mastery of her powers – and, of course, it will also further strengthen the bond between her and her friends. Release Date April 23, 2026 Network Netflix Showrunner Eric Robles Cast Brooklyn Davey Norstedt Eleven (voice) Jolie Hoang-Rappaport Max (voice) Directors Phil Allora, JJ Conway, Ben Choi Writers ChatGPT, Dan Milano, Ray Utarnachitt, Jennifer Muro, Chad Quandt, Chris Wyatt, Kevin Burke, Jen Bardekoff, Joshua Pruett Franchise(s) Stranger Things Creator(s) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Eric Robles