The creators of “Stranger Things,” Matt and Ross Duffer, return to Netflix this spring with “The Boroughs,” a brand-new supernatural mystery headed to the streamer in May.

The series premieres May 21, 2026, and the first-look images tease a tone that blends the eerie small-town vibes of “Stranger Things” with the warm, otherworldly spirit of the 1980s classic Cocoon.

What Is “The Boroughs” About?

Set inside a seemingly perfect retirement community, “The Boroughs” follows a grieving newcomer whose terrifying encounter with a monster pushes him to team up with a ragtag group of residents. Together, they uncover a dark secret that proves their golden years are far more dangerous — and they are far more formidable — than anyone expected.

Creators, showrunners, and executive producers Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews told Tudum that the concept grew naturally from their childhood passions.

“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 duo adds that the goal was to craft a genre mashup that balances multiple tones.

“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.”

At the center of the story is Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina), a widower struggling to figure out what comes next in life.

“He recently lost his wife and he’s trying to figure out what to do with the time he has left… It’s a question we all face. No matter our age. It’s just the stakes get higher the more years you have under your belt.”

Addiss and Matthews also emphasize the show’s broad appeal.

“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.”

The Duffer Brothers’ Involvement

Matt and Ross Duffer executive produce the series and were immediately drawn to the premise.

“For years, we’ve wondered why no one has made a film like Ron Howard’s wonderful Cocoon since, well, Cocoon,” the Duffers said in a statement. “Then Jeff and Will emailed us an idea for The Boroughs: a story about retirees and monsters.”

They praised the project for treating aging seriously rather than as a joke.

“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 skew older than the kids of Hawkins, the creative DNA remains familiar.

“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. At its core, this is a story about belonging and growing up — no matter your age — filled with adventure, wonder, comedy, scares, and tears.”

Cast of “The Boroughs”

The ensemble 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

“The Boroughs” premieres exclusively on Netflix on May 21, 2026. Expect the official trailer soon.