The creative team behind Stranger Things is bringing a new kind of supernatural story to Netflix, and this time the heroes are trading their bikes for golf carts. The Boroughs, an upcoming eight-episode series from creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, counts the Duffer Brothers as executive producers through their Upside Down Pictures banner. Set in a retirement community in the New Mexico desert, the show follows a group of residents who discover their golden years are under attack from an otherworldly threat.
Netflix has confirmed that The Boroughs will premiere on May 21, 2026 . The streaming service also released first-look images in February 2026, giving audiences their initial glimpse at the characters and the seemingly peaceful community where dark secrets hide beneath the surface .
The series brings together an impressive ensemble of veteran actors alongside some familiar faces, creating a mix of experience and talent that the creators say brings something special to the screen. Here is a complete guide to who is playing whom in this highly anticipated project.
The Main Cast of The Boroughs
Alfred Molina as Sam Cooper
Alfred Molina takes on the role of Sam, a man dealing with fresh grief after losing his wife. According to the show’s official description, Sam is a grieving newcomer whose arrival in the retirement community coincides with a monstrous encounter that sets the entire story in motion . Molina brings decades of acting experience to the part, with credits ranging from Spider-Man: No Way Home to the series Three Pines . His character serves as the entry point for audiences into the strange events unfolding in The Boroughs.
Geena Davis as Renee
Oscar-winning actor Geena Davis plays Renee, one of the residents who becomes part of the misfit crew fighting against the supernatural threat . Davis needs little introduction, with legendary film credits including Thelma and Louise and A League of Their Own . Her presence in the series adds considerable star power to an already stacked ensemble.
Alfre Woodard as Judy
Alfre Woodard portrays Judy, another member of the retirement community who joins the fight . Woodard’s career spans decades with acclaimed performances in films like Clemency and the recent adaptation of Salem’s Lot . She brings the kind of gravitas that the Duffer Brothers specifically wanted for a show that treats its older characters as real people facing extraordinary circumstances.
Bill Pullman as Jack
Bill Pullman steps into the role of Jack . Known to audiences worldwide for his starring role in Independence Day and his Emmy-nominated work in the series The Sinner, Pullman joins the cast as one of the residents who must confront the darkness threatening their community .
Clarke Peters as Art
Clarke Peters plays Art . Peters earned widespread recognition for his work as Detective Lester Freamon in the acclaimed series The Wire and appeared in the Oscar-winning film Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri . His character rounds out the core group of residents at the center of the story.
Denis O’Hare as Wally
Denis O’Hare takes on the character of Wally . O’Hare is no stranger to genre television, having appeared in multiple seasons of American Horror Story and the series This Is Us . His experience with dark and unusual material should serve him well in this supernatural mystery.
Jena Malone as Claire
Jena Malone joins the cast as Claire . According to IMDb, her full character name is Claire Cooper, suggesting a possible connection to Alfred Molina’s character Sam Cooper . Malone brings indie film credibility and mainstream recognition from her role as Johanna Mason in The Hunger Games films .
Seth Numrich as Blaine
Seth Numrich portrays Blaine, also listed in some sources as Blaine Shaw . Numrich appeared in the limited series Under the Banner of Heaven and the AMC series Turn .
Alice Kremelberg as Anneliese
Alice Kremelberg plays Anneliese . Kremelberg previously worked with Bill Pullman on the series The Sinner and appeared in the Disney+ series Renegade Nell .
Carlos Miranda as Paz
Carlos Miranda rounds out the main cast as Paz . Miranda is known for his television work on Station 19 and the Starz series Vida .
Recurring and Supporting Cast
The world of The Boroughs extends beyond the main ensemble with several familiar faces in recurring roles.
Rafael Casal appears as Neil . Casal co-created and starred in the series Blindspotting and appeared in the Marvel series Loki .
Dee Wallace plays Grace . Horror fans immediately recognize Wallace from her iconic role as the mother in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and the terrifying Cujo .
Ed Begley Jr. portrays Edward . Begley Jr. brings his extensive comedy and drama experience to the role, with recent appearances in Young Sheldon and Better Call Saul .
Jane Kaczmarek appears as Lilly . Kaczmarek remains beloved for her Emmy-nominated role as Lois in the long-running series Malcolm in the Middle .
Eric Edelstein plays Hank . Edelstein appeared in the revival of Twin Peaks and the HBO comedy Minx .
Mousa Hussein Kraish portrays Dr. McGinnis . Kraish is known for his roles in American Gods and the film Your Lucky Day .
Additional Cast Members
IMDb and other sources confirm several other actors appearing in the series. Ed Begley Jr. and Dee Wallace are joined by Beth Bailey as Kayleigh and Karan Soni as Toby . Hayes Hargrove appears as Vernon Thorne . Young actors Emilia Faucher and Eldon Jones play Ella and Cody respectively .
Behind the Scenes: The Creative Team
Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, who previously developed The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance for Netflix, created the series and serve as showrunners and executive producers . The pair explained their vision for the show to Tudum, Netflix’s official fan site.
“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,” they said .
The Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, executive produce through their Upside Down Pictures banner alongside Hilary Leavitt . The brothers shared why the project appealed to them.
“For years, we’ve wondered why no one has made a film like Ron Howard’s wonderful Cocoon since, well, Cocoon. Then, out of nowhere, Jeff and Will emailed us an idea for The Boroughs: a story about retirees and monsters,” they told Tudum .
“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” .
Ben Taylor, known for directing episodes of Sex Education, directs multiple episodes including the pilot and serves as an executive producer . Augustine Frizzell directs episodes 103, 104, 107, and 108, while Kyle Patrick Alvarez directs episodes 105 and 106 .
John Paesano composes the score, bringing his experience from projects like Daredevil and the Maze Runner films . Carmen Cuba, who worked on Stranger Things, serves as casting director .
The Story and Setting
The Boroughs takes place in what appears to be a peaceful retirement community in the New Mexico desert. The official logline describes the premise: a group of unlikely heroes must band together to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they do not have—time .
The Duffer Brothers emphasized the thematic connection to their previous work while noting the differences. “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,” they said .
“At its core, this is a story about belonging and growing up — no matter your age — filled with adventure, wonder, comedy, scares, and tears” .
Addiss and Matthews described the tonal balancing act required for the series. “From the beginning, we knew we wanted The Boroughs to feel equal parts scary, mysterious, exciting and emotional,” they told Variety . “The challenge was to create a world that could hold all of these different tones at once.”
The creators also praised their cast’s abilities. “According to some very unofficial napkin math, our stars bring something like 350 years of craft to The Boroughs. We knew they would be great. We didn’t expect them to be so fun. They can make you laugh or cry with just a look” .
Also Read:
Production Timeline
Production on The Boroughs began in earnest following the series order from Netflix in April 2023 . Filming took place at Netflix Studios in Albuquerque, New Mexico, with production starting on September 6, 2024 and wrapping after five months on February 8, 2025 .
The series will release all eight episodes on Netflix on May 21, 2026 . Viewers in the USA, UK, Canada, Australia, India, and globally will be able to stream the series on the same date.
Also Read: Is Apple TV’s ‘For All Mankind’ Connected to ‘The Expanse’? The Timeline Explained
For more articles on streaming releases, cast updates, and upcoming series, keep reading VvipTimes.
