Netflix's highly anticipated Duffer Brothers sci-fi drama finally has a release date

It's safe to say that the Duffer Brothers are probably the most talked about television creators of 2026 so far, thanks in part to the much-discussed Stranger Things series finale. The polarizing episode had fans feeling all kinds of feelings right at the start of the new year, but the Duffers are going to have us talking all over again with their two new live-action shows coming to Netflix.

Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen kicks off the Duffer Brothers' next post-Stranger Things chapter in March, and the horror series is followed closely behind by the exciting sci-fi drama The Boroughs. While they didn't create either show, they both definitely have that signature Duffer stamp of camp, weirdness, and storytelling that will have us completely captivated.

The Boroughs release date set for May 2026 on Netflix

Netflix revealed that The Boroughs releases on Thursday, May 21, 2026, with all eight episodes of the supernatural series dropping at once. The Duffer Brothers are on board as executive producers, while Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews are the creators and showrunners who set the tone for what's sure to be the next can't-miss obsession on Netflix. I mean, the storyline alone will have us ready to unravel the mystery!

The Boroughs takes place in a retirement community that, on the surface, looks like your average, everyday community where residents of a certain age revel in their golden years. However, a new resident encounters something unexpected, which leads him to band together with a group of "unlikely heroes" to tackle the dark secret that's anything than average and everyday.

On paper, the concept for The Boroughs sounds very akin to that of Stranger Things. An eclectic group of people joining forces to take on a supernatural threat and save their home. Obviously, they are two completely different shows that aren't related at all, but for those who might be missing our Hawkins heroes, here's a new group of heroes we can go on an adventure with.

The Duffer Brothers opened up to Tudum about the similarities between the shows: "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." We'll be fighting monsters all over again with a new crew in the new series that's promised to be scary, emotional, and mysterious.

Netflix revealed the release date, but the streamer hasn't unveiled first-look footage in the form of a teaser or trailer just yet. In the coming months, as the May 21 release date gets nearer, we will definitely get a taste of what to expect from the series. For now, Netflix dropped a wide variety of photos from The Boroughs that teases the characters investigating the dark mystery.

The cast of The Boroughs includes Alfred Molina as Sam, Geena Davis as Renee, Alfre Woodard as Judy, Denis O’Hare as Wally, Clarke Peters as Art, Bill Pullman as Jack, Carlos Miranda as Paz, Jena Malone as Claire, Seth Numrich as Blaine, and Alice Kremelberg as Anneliese. Ed Begley Jr., Jane Kaczmarek, Rafael Casal, and others also guest star in the series.

Check out first-look photos from the series below!