Netflix might quickly lose the artistic group behind considered one of its greatest hits.
Earlier this week, Selection and different Hollywood publications reported that Matt and Ross Duffer, the brothers who created “Stranger Issues” (and wrote and directed many episodes), have been in talks to signal an unique take care of Paramount (now underneath the possession of David Ellison’s Skydance). Then on Friday night, Puck’s Matthew Belloni posted that the Duffers had in truth “made their alternative” and have been going to Paramount.
The Duffer Brothers’ ambition appears to have elevated with every season of “Stranger Issues,” as episodes have grown longer, set items have develop into extra spectacular, and the finances has grown accordingly, with a reported Season 4 value of $30 million per episode.
So it’s not shocking that the Duffers are all in favour of making big-budget, tentpole films subsequent — an space the place Netflix has struggled, partially resulting from its thorny relationship with the theatrical enterprise, which co-CEO Ted Sarandos just lately described as an “outdated idea.”
Whereas Netflix does launch some films in theaters, it has resisted giving these releases a big unique window earlier than launching on streaming, which implies Netflix films often aren’t proven by the foremost chains.
This was, apparently, a sticking level for “Barbie” director Greta Gerwig, so the primary of her “Narnia” films for Netflix will play completely on Imax screens for 2 weeks (or extra) earlier than going to streaming on Christmas Day 2026. And it appears this was additionally vital to the Duffers, with Belloni reporting that the “theatrical part” turned out to be the “dealbreaker” of their negotiations.
The brothers’ absence won’t be instantly noticeable on Netflix, which shall be releasing the ultimate season of “Stranger Issues” in three (!) components later this 12 months, and the place the Duffers have two new reveals scheduled to launch in 2026. Plus, the “Stranger Issues” empire is rising, with a prequel taking part in on Broadway, an animated sequence coming quickly, and a dwell motion spinoff reportedly within the works.
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