The Duffer Brothers’s accomplishments continue to grow after the success of Stranger Things season 4. Recently, Matt and Ross Duffer formed Upside Down Pictures and re-signed to Netflix with several new projects in the works. Borrowing the name from the alternate dimension in the Stranger Things universe, the Duffer Brothers aim to take the company down the same path that led them to creating such a great series.
Projects and People
First, The Duffers hired Hilary Leavitt to run Upside Down Pictures. Leavitt previously developed series such as Orphan Black, Ozark, The Great, and Shining Girls. In addition, they said the new company will be guided by the stories that inspired them growing up: “Stories that take place at that beautiful crossroads where the ordinary meets the extraordinary, where big spectacle co-exists with intimate character work, where heart wins out over cynicism.”
And they’ve wasted no time getting started on its first projects. The slate of future productions includes:
- A new live-action adaptation of Death Note, the Japanese manga and anime series originally written by Tsugumi Ohba and illustrated by Takeshi Obata.
- An original series from creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews.
- An adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub’s 1984 novel The Talisman. This contains similar otherworldly qualities as Stranger Things, falling on the sci-fi, fantasy, and horror side, according to Matt Duffer.
- A stage play set within the world of Stranger Things produced by UK-based stage producer Sonia, Stephen Daldry, and Netflix.
- And finally, a live-action Stranger Things spin-off series based on an original idea by The Duffer Brothers.
Stranger Things 4 topped Netflix’s all-time most popular English TV list with 1.15 billion hours viewed in its first 28 days. Following this success, the Duffers are taking a break before they begin writing the final season in August. This season of Stranger Things is only the second show in Netflix’s history to cross the billion view mark. While they focus on wrapping up the series, the Duffers turn to Leavitt to handle the development volume for Upside Down Pictures.
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