Something strange has awakened in Hawkins, and it’s up to a familiar crew to get to the bottom of a terrifying new mystery.
Eleven (voiced by Brooklyn Davey Norstedt), Mike (Luca Diaz), Will (Benjamin Plessala), Dustin (Braxton Quinney), Lucas (Elisha “EJ” Williams), and Max (In Your Dreams’s Jolie Hoang-Rappaport) will again hit the streets to save their town in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, the upcoming animated series from Eric Robles (Glitch Techs, Fanboy & Chum Chum) and executive produced by the Duffer Brothers. It premieres April 23 on Netflix.
With the gate to the Upside Down closed, and its inhabitants cut off from our world, things in Hawkins were supposed to return to normal. But terrifying new monsters await, along with new friends and a new adventure in this series set in the Stranger Things universe. So, who is poised to join the fight? Read on for a rundown of the fresh characters entering the fray as well as the friends you know and love who are down for the cause.
After an eventful year, Eleven is finally starting to feel normal — for someone with telekinetic abilities, of course. Hopper is her family, and she’s adjusted to his strict rules that are in place to protect her. Plus, she gets to hang out with her friends and experience regular things like snowball fights and arcade games.
As the only person in her friend group with powers, Eleven has learned that these special abilities can keep those she cares about safe. So when a new threat appears, she’ll stop at nothing to shield her friends and her home against the terrifying monsters that lurk.
Norstedt previously portrayed Amber in the 2022 miniseries WeCrashed.
Smart and strong-willed, Mike enjoys spending quality time with his friends, including his new girlfriend Eleven.
When fresh monsters start surfacing, Mike is all for the group handling this problem themselves, lest word gets back to Hopper about a looming threat to Eleven’s safety and he enacts even stricter rules.
Erin & Aaron, Migration, and Transformers: EarthSpark
Dustin is a lovable smart alec and a true believer in all things paranormal. While his friends are keen on putting the Upside Down experiences behind them, he’s searching for the next mystery to solve.
As the most vocal member of the crew, Dustin feels a duty to investigate the reported sightings of abnormal activity all over town and protect residents from the evil denizens threatening their safety. After all, he and his friends did defeat a Demogorgon and outsmart the Mind Flayer.
You Can’t Take My Daughter and Bigger
Like the others, Lucas is eager to put the Upside Down horrors behind him and get back to a normal life of Dungeons & Dragons, school, and his new relationship with Max. But when evidence shows there might be a fresh monster threat in town, he’s quick to tackle the problem head-on.
Firebuds, The Wonder Years, The Loud House, and Henry Danger
Creative and shy, Will is just looking for a clean slate after everything he went through last year. So much so that he even wants to be Dungeon Master for the group’s next Dungeons & Dragons campaign.
Will finds comfort in his new buddy Nikki, who doesn’t treat him with kid gloves like his other friends. Nikki’s confidence in Will inspires Will to stop ignoring the growing supernatural threat in town and to be brave enough to fight.
Wylde Pak, Scooby-Doo! And the Mystery Pups, American Auto, Minions: The Rise of Gru, and Big Little Lies
Tough, cool, and delightfully snarky, Max isn’t afraid to speak her mind. She was once the newbie in town but has since found her place among the crew and cares deeply for her newfound friends. When trouble arises, she’s ready to fight alongside them, smart mouth and all.
My Adventures with Superman, Head of the Class, and Watchmen
Hopper is the town’s police chief who keeps a close eye on Eleven so that strangers don’t find out about her powers and stick their noses where they don’t belong.
Station 19, S.W.A.T., Community, and Knights of Badassdom
Steve has great hair, a nice car, and a spiked bat to take care of business. He’s no stranger to the supernatural happenings in Hawkins and is quick to help the crew out — especially when his buddy Dustin is the one who’s calling.
Hazbin Hotel, Rapunzel’s Tangled Adventure, The Last Five Years, Smash, and Joyful Noise
Nikki is a kind and loyal transfer student with zero tolerance for bullies. Used to being on her own, she isn’t looking for friends when she first encounters the crew. But she finds real camaraderie with her new pals, especially Will, to whom she relates as someone who also feels like an outsider.
I Love LA, Marty Supreme, Ghosts, Fam, and Nashville
Anna is Nikki’s mom and Hawkins Middle School’s newest biology teacher. She’s filling in for Mr. Clarke, who’s taking a sabbatical for the semester. Anna is smart, eccentric, and passionate about science — treating all aspects of life as one big experiment.
Frequently on the move, she views each new job and town as a chance for a fresh start. But she must reckon with this outlook when her daughter gains real friends and starts feeling at home in Hawkins.
Harley Quinn, Younger, Ratatouille, The Truth About Cats and Dogs, and Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion
Daniel is the friendly clerk at Hawkins Food Mart who often lets Dustin run up a tab on snacks and soda.
Firebuds, Prodigal Son, Elena of Avalor, Longmire, and Stand and Deliver
Robles executive produces Tales From ’85 via Flying Bark Productions, along with the Duffer Brothers and Hilary Leavitt via Upside Down Pictures, Shawn Levy via 21 Laps, and Dan Cohen.
Stream Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 when it premieres April 23 on Netflix. You can be among the first to watch the series before it debuts by attending a special early screening. Plus, get all the key intel on the series here, and read up on what else to expect in this interview with Robles.
