New projects include a “Stranger Things” spin-off.

License Global

July 7, 2022

2 Min Read
The Duffer Bros on the set of "Stranger Things."
The Duffer Bros on the set of "Stranger Things."Netflix

Stranger Things” showrunners, the Duffer Brothers, have announced their new production company, Upside Down Pictures, for film and television projects as part of a deal with Netflix. Hilary Leavitt will be leading the new studio. 

Upside Down Pictures will “aim to create the kind of stories that inspired the Duffers 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.” 

The Duffer Brothers and Netflix also announced their growing slate of projects in active development: 

  • An all-new live-action television adaptation of the Japanese manga and anime series, “Death Note” 

  • An original series from creators, Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews 

  • A series adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub’s “The Talisman” alongside Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment and Paramount Television to be created by Curtis Gwinn 

  •  A new stage play set within the world and mythology of “Stranger Things” 

  •  A live-action “Stranger Things” spin-off series 

“It didn’t take long into our first meeting with Hilary, where we bonded over films like ‘Jaws,’ ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Speed,’ to know we had found a kindred spirit,” say Matt and Ross Duffer. “Hilary’s passion for storytelling is perhaps matched only by her passion for the storytellers themselves, for whom she is fiercely protective. No wonder so many writers and directors are drawn to working with her. She is a rare talent indeed, and we feel extremely grateful to have her at our side as we build Upside Down Pictures.” 

Related:The Netflix Effect: How Streaming Influences Consumer Culture

“I remember the first movie I saw in the theater, the first VHS tape I got for Christmas, the first international one-sheet I bid for on eBay because it was cooler than the domestic,” says Leavitt. “And the first time I met Matt and Ross. All of these seminal moments have led to this ridiculously cool opportunity to build a company with the Duffer Brothers, where we produce movies and television because we love movies and television. This love is at the core of Upside Down Pictures, where we’re able to collaborate with other artists on projects across the full spectrum of genres. We all love what we do and are excited to do more and more.” 

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