Duffer and Shawn Levy are ending their partnership with Netflix after ten years: here's why
The words of Ted Sarandos, the CEO of the streaming service
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We know it: all good things, unfortunately, don't last forever, and for Netflix too, we've reached what could be described as the end of a cycle. As many fans already remember with nostalgia, at the beginning of the year we witnessed the touching finale of "Stranger Things": the fantasy-horror series that began in 2016 and, over a run of five enthralling seasons, has captivated millions of viewers with its atmospheric atmosphere and unmistakable references to '80s pop culture, even though the conclusion, despite reaching peak spectacularity, still left many unanswered questions.
After much speculation, it seems that the end of the main show will also mark the end of the collaboration between the Duffer brothers, creators of "Stranger Things," and flagship Netflix. This comes after a roughly ten-year partnership and, more importantly, after having earned the title of one of the service's most important creative teams. Even after such a milestone, the duo has preferred to take their talents elsewhere, this time relying on the production resources of Paramount.
In addition to the franchise set in the town of Hawkins, the brothers have also been busy with "Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen," a psychological horror miniseries developed by showrunner Haley Z. Boston and executive produced by the Duffers, which debuted exclusively on the platform last March. In a structure where each episode spans a full day, we follow the adventures of Rachel Harkin and Nicky Cunningham, a couple traveling to the vacation home where they're getting married. In the five days leading up to their wedding, the two will witness a series of inexplicable events, ultimately fueling Rachel's paranoia and the belief that something terrible is about to happen.
The newly inaugurated partnership with Paramount seems no less interesting: many years after their first film, "Hidden," and after signing an exclusive four-year deal with the production company, the Duffers will finally return to directing with a project still shrouded in mystery, scheduled for release on November 3, 2028. As confirmed by the authors themselves, the move from Netflix to Paramount is in no way due to old grudges or setbacks, but solely to the desire to return to directing a title destined for the big screen. On the matter, Matt Duffer had already stated in a previous interview: "We're going to be 42 soon. And at a certain point I thought: if we really want to make a film intended for the theater, then we have to do it now."
The end of the collaboration between the Duffers and Netflix was, of course, met with an official response from CEO Ted Sarandos, who, after the initial outcry, was keen to clarify his version of events. Describing a relationship between the creators and the company that was far from strained, he stated: "The Duffers have worked with us for a decade, and right now they don't want to make any more TV series. They really want to make big theatrical event films." And, with best wishes for a fruitful future, he added: "I told Matt and Ross: You're great at what you do, and I think you should give it a try. You're 40 years old. Don't wake up at 60 wishing you'd done it 20 years earlier."
Following the same path as the two brothers was Shawn Levy, a director and producer who has been in partnership with Netflix for about a decade. After such a long time, he is best remembered for producing "Stranger Things" through his company 21 Laps Entertainment, but also for working on projects such as "Shadow and Bone," the revival of "Unsolved Mysteries," and "All the Light We Cannot See," the miniseries written by Steven Knight that probably kept Levy busiest since "Stranger Things," involving him not only as a producer but also as director of all four episodes.
From what has emerged, 21 Laps will now be under Disney's control. It's no coincidence that Levy is currently directing the next "Star Wars: Starfighter," again with the support of the ever-present LucasFilm. Speaking about himself, Sarandos said: "Shawn was in pretty much the same situation. When you have an overall deal with someone who has commitments elsewhere, you're constantly competing for their time. Shawn will be making Star Wars movies for a while, so his deal with Disney makes a lot of sense." One thing, at least, is certain for the CEO: "Stranger Things" will remain a Netflix product, and "the Stranger Things universe will continue to be part of their success forever."
