Matt and Ross, The Duffer Brothers burst onto the scene in 2016 with the debut of their hit Netflix series, Stranger Things. The series follows a group of young kids in Hawkins, Indiana, as they team with their fellow citizens to take on the monsters of the Upside Down, a parallel universe beneath their own. While also exploring the dark past of one of their own friends and her unusual powers. The show was an instant hit for Netflix and quickly cemented itself into the pop culture zeitgeist. A key component of the show’s success is owed to its creators and writers, Matt and Ross Duffer, who seemingly draw from their own ’80s upbringing to give Stranger Things its nostalgic appeal.
The brothers blend numerous genres in their storytelling, from horror and science fiction, to fantasy and romance. Stranger Things truly does have something for everyone, a credit to the brother’s direction and writing. As with any successful series, all good things must come to an end. With the upcoming fifth season slated to be the last, the Duffer’s will soon be looking for their next challenge. Let’s examine six franchises the Duffer Brothers should enter following the conclusion of Stranger Things.
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6 Marvel Cinematic Universe
The MCU is unquestionably the biggest franchise in film and television these days. With numerous films and series releasing each year, Marvel is doing storytelling the likes of which we have never seen. With so many new and unique characters being introduced, The Duffer Brothers would fit perfectly into the MCU. Perhaps taking on something in Marvel’s horror genre. A Midnight Suns film or even an MCU-proper adaptation of The Runaways would fit the brothers perfectly. With Marvel beginning to lean heavily into “Special Presentations” these opens the door for stylized writers and directors to thrive in the MCU.
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
MOVIEWEB VIDEO OF THE DAY
5 Dungeons & Dragons
Paramount Pictures
One of the biggest through lines in Stranger Things is the kids love of the role playing game Dungeons and Dragons. Often times battling monsters from the Upside Down inspired by D&D characters. While a new film, Dungeons & Dragons: Honor Among Thieves is set to release in 2023, this is a franchise the duffers would fit into seamlessly. Their love for the game and penchant for using it in their storytelling would add so much authenticity to the upcoming franchise. We will have to first wait and see how audiences respond to the Chris Pine led film in 2023.
4 Black Mirror
Netflix
A trip into the world of Black Mirror would keep the Duffer’s inside the Netflix universe while also allowing them to write to a more mature audience. This is not to say Stranger Things does not have its mature themes and storylines; it certainly does. Black Mirror however, allows for an even broader canvas on which to paint. The Duffers could continue using their love of horror and science fiction to tell a truly impactful story. Adding to an already robust library of cautionary tales about the future of mankind.
3 Star Wars
Lucasfilm Ltd.
The Duffer Brothers would no doubt do a fantastic job within the Star Wars universe. This does not necessarily have to be on the big screen. As Disney + continues to provide a platform for stories to be fleshed out in a longer format, an original story done by the Duffer’s and set within the established world of Star Wars. A work like this could follow in the footsteps of series like Andor, a show receiving praise following its first season.
2 Fargo
MGM Television
Noah Hawley has done an exceptional job with Fargo, the anthology series based (loosely) on the 1996 Coen Brothers classic film of the same name. The series would give the Duffers a large canvas on which to paint rich stories and characters. Fargo even features its fair share of supernatural goings-on, with the presence of UFOS in the second season. The supernatural being something the Duffer Brothers are familiar with and succeed at.
1 Something New
CBS News
While it would be great to see the Duffer Brothers jump into any one of these established franchises, we know they are more than capable of creating something brand new. The duo built Stranger Things from the ground up, drawing inspiration from some of their favorite moves and television shows, but maintaining something fresh and new. In an entertainment world bursting at the seams with reboots, remakes, and sequels, an original work from two of the most talented young writers and directors in Hollywood would be a welcome breath of fresh air. No matter what the siblings choose to do as they move on from the upside down, we are sure to be in store for compelling stories a plenty.
