The Boroughs: What to know about the Duffer brothers’ new series

As a massive fan of the Duffer Brothers and their hit series Stranger Things, I couldn’t be more excited for their next big Netflix project: The Boroughs. After the wild ride we experienced in Hawkins, Indiana, the idea of diving into another supernatural adventure from the Duffers is enough to have me counting down the days until its release.

Here’s everything we know so far about the eight-episode drama series The Boroughs, and why it’s sure to capture the hearts of fans like me.

The Boroughs synopsis

Imagine this: a quiet retirement community nestled in the New Mexico desert, filled with seniors enjoying their golden years. Sounds peaceful, right? Well, not for long! The Boroughs follows a group who suddenly find themselves up against a dark, mysterious force that threatens not only their small town but the entire world. Yep, you heard that right. It’s up to this unlikely crew to save us all.

As a fan, I’m thrilled to see the Duffer Brothers take such a unique approach to the “heroes” of this story. Instead of teenagers riding their bikes into the unknown, we could have a group of elderly residents who band together to fight the forces of evil. It’s not your typical action-packed sci-fi, and that’s exactly why I’m excited. It’s giving us a fresh spin on the genre, with a mix of heart, humor, and, of course, supernatural thrills.

Here's the official logline via Netflix:

"In a seemingly picturesque retirement community, a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have… time. "

If you loved the character-driven storytelling and emotional depth in Stranger Things, The Boroughs is going to be right up your alley.

The Duffer Brothers themselves have described it as having the “heart of Cocoon,” which, for those of us who haven’t seen it, is a classic '80s movie about a group of elderly people who discover a rejuvenating alien power. Think of it as a heartfelt sci-fi adventure with a lot of emotion packed in, and we all know how well the Duffers can mix supernatural elements with raw human experiences.

Plus, The Boroughs will be brought to life by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, the talented creators behind The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. That show was a masterpiece of fantasy storytelling, so we can trust that The Boroughs will have the same level of world-building, attention to detail, and gripping plot twists.

Who stars in the new series?

If you’re expecting another teen-centric series like Stranger Things, The Boroughs is going to give you something totally new but equally captivating.

From what we know so far, it’ll have a healthy mix of humor and heartfelt moments, with the kind of supernatural thrills we’ve come to expect from the Duffers. The setting — a retirement community in New Mexico — gives it a totally different vibe from the suburban '80s nostalgia of Stranger Things, but I have no doubt it will draw us in just the same.

Netflix's Tudum shared the cast list that's full of familiar faces:

• 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
• Jena Malone as Claire
• Carlos Miranda as Paz
• Seth Numrich as Blaine
• Alice Kremelberg as Anneliese

The Duffers said it themselves: This group of unlikely heroes has to fight something much bigger than they are. And that’s exactly the kind of underdog story I love. It’s going to be thrilling to watch these characters, people you wouldn’t expect to be action stars, rise to the occasion and save the day.

Filming began in September 2024

The project was announced in early 2023, and while we don’t have an exact release date yet, production commenced in September 2024. My guess is that it will likely land sometime in 2025. That gives us just enough time to rewatch Stranger Things (again!) and prepare for what’s sure to be another epic series from the Duffer Brothers’ creative minds.

As a fan of Stranger Things, I have full faith that The Boroughs will deliver on every front. The Duffer Brothers have a knack for taking everyday people and placing them in extraordinary circumstances, all while giving us characters we can’t help but root for. With a cast of older heroes, a new setting, and a sinister supernatural threat lurking in the desert, The Boroughs could easily become Netflix’s next big hit.

Stay tuned because this is one journey we won’t want to miss!