Netflix just shelved Duffer Brothers’ next show — here's what we know so far
Ahead of the release of 'Stranger Things' Season 5 finale, Netflix has quietly canceled the next show from the creators of the iconic show. The Duffer Brothers, Matt and Ross, were set to work on the adaptation of Stephen King and Peter Straub's best-selling novel, 'The Talisman'. The duo had initially inked a deal to create the show back in 2021.
However, the project has been languishing in production hell since. During his interview with CBR, Ross shared the disappointing update. "Sadly, Talisman is no longer at Netflix, so we’re not involved," he revealed. "When I interned, when I was really, you know, back in college at Kennedy Marshall, I remember reading, I think it was a movie script for Talisman. So it’s been in development forever, so I’m sorry that we were not the ones to break the curse,” he added.
Matt added, "I think it was probably naive of us to think we could break The Talisman." The latest update comes in the wake of their move to Paramount in April 2026. "To be part of that mission is not just exciting – it’s the fulfillment of a lifelong dream," they said in a statement.
"And to do so at a studio with such a storied Hollywood legacy is a privilege we don’t take lightly. We’re also excited to reunite with our friends Cindy [Holland] and Matt [Thunell], who were among the very first to believe in us and an unusual little script we wrote that became ‘Stranger Things.’ They took a chance on us in 2015, and they’re taking a chance again – we can’t wait to create new stories together."
'The Talisman' follows the story of 12-year-old Jack Sawyer, determined to find the titular object that can save his dying mother and the world. His journey sees him head to a realm known as the Territories and ties into King's Dark Tower.' Regarded as one of the cult movies of all time, the live-action show's future sadly is not with Netflix. That said, it remains to be seen if Paramount will greenlight the series at some point.
For now, all eyes will be on the gripping finale of the fifth and final season of 'Stranger Things'. The episode, spanning two hours and eight minutes, will mark the end of the series, which first premiered in 2016. 'Stranger Things' Season 5 Episode 8, titled 'The Rightside Up,' releases on Netflix at 8 p.m. ET (5 p.m. PT) on Wednesday, December 31, 2025.
