- Netflix announced on Wednesday that “Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” an adaptation of the popular sci-fi series, will premiere in London’s West End later this year.
- The play will take place more than two decades before the show’s first scene and will include characters such as police chief Jim Hopper.
- The play joins a growing lineup of in-person events inspired by Netflix movies and shows like “Bridgerton” and “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery.”
(L-R) Actors Noah Schnapp, Caleb McLaughlin and actress Sadie Sink pose after the Stranger Things panel during the second day of Argentina Comic Con 2018 at Costa Salguero on December 08, 2018 in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Ricardo Cepi | Getty Images | NETFLIX
A new ‘Stranger Things’ spin-off is coming to London’s West End later this year, Netflix announced on Wednesday.
“Stranger Things: The First Shadow,” an adaptation of the popular sci-fi series, will premiere at the Phoenix Theater as the streaming giant’s first live-action stage production.
The play will be set in 1959 in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, taking place more than two decades before the show’s first scene. In a press release, Netflix said it would include a handful of main characters from the show, including city police chief Jim Hopper and Joyce Byers’ boyfriend Bob Newby.
The play – based on an original story by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry – was written by Trefry and will be directed by Stephen Daldry, with Justin Martin co-directing. It will be produced by Sonia Friedman Productions. Thorne also wrote the play for “Harry Potter and the Cursed Child”.
“You’ll meet endearing new characters, as well as some very familiar ones, on a trip down memory lane that sets the stage for the future of ‘Stranger Things,'” Matt and Ross Duffer said in a statement.
The series “Stranger Things” debuted in 2016 and has been one of the most popular shows on the streaming platform. Its fourth season topped Netflix’s list of most popular English TV shows with 1.35 billion hours watched.
In Netflix’s latest shareholder letter, the company said subscribers watched more seasons and sequels in 2022 than any year before. Netflix swept subscriber expectations for the fourth quarter, adding 7.66 million paying subscribers in the fourth quarter.
The play joins a growing lineup of in-person events inspired by Netflix movies and shows, including the immersive multi-city “Stranger Things: The Experience.” Other events have included balls with “Bridgerton” themes and a live escape room experience based on “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery”.
Netflix has also been gaining traction in the comedy space with a live-action stand-up special featuring Chris Rock scheduled for March 4, during which he will discuss Will Smith’s Oscar slap in the face.
Tickets for “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” are expected to go on sale in the spring.