Netflix might soon lose the creative force behind one of its major successes.
Reports from Variety and other Hollywood media earlier this week indicated that Matt and Ross Duffer, creators of “Stranger Things” (who also wrote and directed numerous episodes), were negotiating an exclusive deal with Paramount (now owned by David Ellison’s Skydance). On Friday evening, Matthew Belloni of Puck revealed that the Duffers had made their decision and were moving to Paramount.
The Duffer Brothers’ ambitions have seemingly expanded with each new season of “Stranger Things.” Episodes have increased in length, set pieces have become more impressive, and the budget has escalated accordingly, with Season 4 reportedly costing $30 million per episode.
It’s unsurprising that the Duffers are now interested in pursuing big-budget, high-profile movies — an area where Netflix has faced challenges, partly due to its complex relationship with the theatrical industry, which co-CEO Ted Sarandos recently called an “outdated concept.”
Although Netflix does release some films in theaters, it has been reluctant to offer them a significant exclusive window before streaming, so major chains typically do not show Netflix films.
This issue reportedly impacted “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig, resulting in her first “Narnia” film for Netflix having an exclusive two-week Imax release (possibly longer) before its streaming debut on Christmas Day 2026. This also seemed crucial for the Duffers, with Belloni stating that the “theatrical component” was the “dealbreaker” in their talks.
The brothers’ departure won’t be immediately felt on Netflix, with the final season of “Stranger Things” releasing in three parts later this year, and the Duffers have two new shows slated for 2026. Additionally, the “Stranger Things” franchise is expanding, with a Broadway prequel, an upcoming animated series, and a live-action spinoff reportedly in development.
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