“Stranger Things” creators the Duffer Brothers (Matt and Ross Duffer) are back this May with “The Boroughs,” a brand new supernatural mystery series from the streamer.
“The Boroughs” will premiere on Netflix on May 21, 2026. Check out a batch of first-look images below, which suggest a mix of “Stranger Things” and the ’80s movie Cocoon.
What’s “The Boroughs” about?
In a seemingly perfect retirement community, a grieving newcomer’s monstrous encounter inspires him to join a misfit crew of unlikely heroes who uncover a dark secret that proves their “golden years” are more dangerous, and they are more formidable, than anyone expects.
Creators/Showrunners/Executive Producers Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews tell Tudum.com, “When Jeff was a child all he did was draw monsters and when Will was a child he started planning for his retirement. So a show about a group of retirees who fight monsters really plays to both our strengths.”
“The result is an adventure about a group of unlikely heroes that we can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with,” the duo continues. “From the beginning, we knew we wanted The Boroughs to feel equal parts scary, mysterious, exciting and emotional. The challenge was to create a world that could hold all of these different tones at once.”
The official statement continues, “Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina) is the heart of our story. He recently lost his wife and he’s trying to figure out what to do with the time he has left. Which is a question we all face. No matter our age. It’s just the stakes get higher the more years you have under your belt.
“Everyone talks about wanting to make a show that teenagers can watch with their parents. We wanted to make one that teenagers could watch with their parents and their grandparents that everyone could enjoy.”
How are the Duffer Brothers involved in “The Boroughs”?
The “Stranger Things” creators will Executive Produce the new series.
Matt and Ross Duffer said in a statement, “For years, we’ve wondered why no one has made a film like Ron Howard’s wonderful Cocoon since, well, Cocoon. Then, out of nowhere, Jeff and Will emailed us an idea for The Boroughs: a story about retirees and monsters. They were adamant that — unlike so many stories about older characters — this wouldn’t treat aging as a punchline. Instead, it would treat its characters as real people facing real challenges… along with a few supernatural ones. It was exactly the show we’d been dreaming of.”
“While the characters are a little older than the kids in Stranger Things (they ride golf carts instead of bikes), the spirit is very much the same,” the Duffer Brothers continue. “At its core, this is a story about belonging and growing up — no matter your age — filled with adventure, wonder, comedy, scares, and tears.”
Who stars in “The Boroughs”?
The show’s cast includes…
- Alfred Molina
- Geena Davis
- Alfre Woodard
- Clarke Peters
- Denis O’Hare
- Bill Pullman
- Carlos Miranda
- Jena Malone
- Seth Numrich
- Alice Kremelberg
- Dee Wallace
- Ed Begley Jr.
- Jane Kaczmarek
When does “The Boroughs” premiere on Netflix?
The series will premiere exclusively on Netflix on Thursday, May 21, 2026.
Check out a gallery of first-look images below and expect the trailer soon.
