If you love the feeling of watching a group of underdogs band together to fight monsters in The Boroughs, the new Netflix series from the creators of Stranger Things, you are not imagining things. The Duffer Brothers admit the new show shares a lot with their global hit. But instead of kids on bikes in the 1980s, this time the heroes are retirees in golf carts.
Matt and Ross Duffer, who changed pop culture with Stranger Things, are ready to introduce the world to their next supernatural adventure. During recent presentations and interviews, the brothers opened up about why The Boroughs feels so familiar yet so fresh. They confirmed that while the age range of the heroes is different, the “spirit” of the show is exactly what made audiences fall in love with Eleven and the gang.
Set to premiere on May 21, 2026, The Boroughs is created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews. The Duffer Brothers serve as executive producers through their company, Upside Down Pictures. With a star-studded cast including Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Bill Pullman, and Alfre Woodard, this series is already shaping up to be one of Netflix’s biggest events of the year.
What Makes The Boroughs Different From Stranger Things? The Age of the Misfits
For years, fans and media outlets jokingly called The Boroughs “Stranger Things in a retirement home.” Initially, Netflix pushed back against that comparison. But now, the Duffer Brothers are embracing it—with a clear explanation of what sets the shows apart.
Speaking at Netflix’s “Next on Netflix” event and in subsequent interviews with Tudum, Matt Duffer explained the core difference clearly. “Of the two projects, The Boroughs probably shares the most DNA with Stranger Things because it’s about a group of misfits who fight an otherworldly evil,” Matt said.
He then highlighted the major twist. “Only unlike Stranger Things, it’s set in a retirement community. This time our misfits are a little on the older side. They ride golf carts, not bikes.”
This simple change in transportation is more than just a joke. It represents a complete shift in perspective. The characters in The Boroughs are not kids discovering the world for the first time. They are people who have lived full lives, facing a threat that targets something they don’t have left in abundance: time.
The Spirit is the Same: A Story About Belonging
While the setting has changed from Hawkins, Indiana, to a retirement community in the New Mexico desert, the heart of the show remains the same. The Duffer Brothers were careful to point out that the emotional core of The Boroughs is what connects it to their previous work.
“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,” the brothers explained in a joint statement.
They went deeper into the theme, explaining what viewers can expect emotionally. “At its core, this is a story about belonging and growing up — no matter your age — filled with adventure, wonder, comedy, scares, and tears. And most importantly, you’re going to fall in love with these characters.”
This focus on character over scares is a hallmark of the Duffers’ storytelling. They believe that monsters are cool, but they are nothing without people you care about. “Watching legends like Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters, Denis O’Hare, and Bill Pullman bring them to life was genuinely magical,” they added. “The monsters are very cool — but it’s the characters who will stay with you.”
What is The Boroughs About? The Official Plot
Netflix has released the official synopsis for the eight-episode series, and it promises a mix of horror, mystery, and deep emotion.
The story takes place in a seemingly perfect retirement community in the desert. It follows a grieving newcomer named Sam, played by Alfred Molina. After he has a terrifying encounter with a monster, he realizes something is very wrong in his new home. He joins a group of unlikely heroes—other residents of the community—to uncover a dark secret.
Their discovery proves that their “golden years” are far more dangerous than anyone expected. It also reveals that the residents themselves are more formidable than anyone gives them credit for. The threat they face is supernatural, and it is trying to steal the one thing the retirees do not have: time.
The showrunners, Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, explained their vision to Tudum. “From the beginning, we knew we wanted The Boroughs to feel equal parts scary, mysterious, exciting and emotional. The challenge was to create a world that could hold all of these different tones at once. Which is why it was so fun to work with the Duffer Brothers — the masters of balancing heart and horror.”
The All-Star Cast Bringing The Boroughs to Life
One of the most exciting aspects of The Boroughs is its incredible cast. The Duffer Brothers have assembled a group of screen legends who bring decades of experience to the screen.
The main cast includes:
- Alfred Molina (Spider-Man: No Way Home, Frida) as Sam, the grieving newcomer.
- Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise, Beetlejuice) as Renee.
- Alfre Woodard (Luke Cage, 12 Years a Slave) as Judy.
- Bill Pullman (Independence Day, The Sinner) as Jack.
- Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story, True Blood) as Wally.
- Clarke Peters (The Wire, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) as Art.
- Jena Malone (The Hunger Games, Donnie Darko) as Claire.
- Carlos Miranda, Seth Numrich, and Alice Kremelberg.
The showrunners joked about the talent they assembled. Between the main cast members, there is “something like 350 years of craft” on screen. “We knew they would be great. We didn’t expect them to be so fun,” Addiss and Matthews said. “They can make you laugh or cry with just a look. Makes it whole lot easier on us writers.”
Why the Duffer Brothers Said Yes to The Boroughs
With a track record like the Duffers’, they get pitched a lot of projects. So, what made The Boroughs stand out? According to the brothers, it was the fresh take on a forgotten genre.
“For years, we’ve wondered why no one has made a film like Ron Howard’s wonderful Cocoon since, well, Cocoon,” the Duffer Brothers recalled. “Then, out of nowhere, Jeff and Will emailed us an idea for The Boroughs: a story about retirees and monsters.”
What impressed them most was the creators’ approach to the characters. “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.”
This respect for the characters and the combination of everyday struggles with supernatural horror was the key to getting the Duffers on board.
When and Where to Watch The Boroughs
The Boroughs will be available for streaming globally on Netflix. All eight episodes will be released at the same time, allowing for a weekend binge-watch.
- Global Release Date: May 21, 2026
- Platform: Netflix (Worldwide)
- Episodes: 8
Viewers in the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, India, and everywhere else Netflix is available will be able to stream the series starting on this date. The release typically happens at 12:00 a.m. Pacific Time in the US, which means viewers in the UK and India will get it on the morning of May 22 due to the time difference.
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More From the Duffer Brothers Coming Soon
The Boroughs is not the only project the Duffer Brothers have cooking at Netflix. They are also executive producing a horror-drama series called Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen. That show, created by Haley Z. Boston, will arrive earlier, on March 26, 2026. It follows a bride and groom during a chaotic and terrifying week leading up to their wedding.
Additionally, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85, an animated spin-off of the flagship series, is scheduled for April 23, 2026. And of course, the fifth and final season of Stranger Things is also expected to debut sometime in 2026, making it a huge year for the Duffers and Netflix.
With The Boroughs, the brothers are proving that their formula of mixing heartfelt characters with scary monsters works at any age.
Stay tuned to VvipTimes for the latest updates on The Boroughs, exclusive interviews, and all the biggest entertainment news from around the world.
