Stranger Things creators switch gears: A brooding new thriller heads to Netflix

After conquering the streaming world with “Stranger Things,” the Duffer brothers are setting their sights on a new challenge – adapting Ron Currie's noir thriller novel for Netflix. This exciting partnership continues their creative relationship with the streaming giant as they prepare to bid farewell to Hawkins. The acclaimed creators are diving into uncharted territory with this gritty crime drama set in small-town Maine.

Netflix continues to strengthen its relationship with Matt and Ross Duffer as the creative duo prepares for life after their breakthrough hit series. While fans eagerly await the final episodes of “Stranger Things” season five, the streaming platform has already secured the brothers' next project – an adaptation of Ron Currie's recently published noir thriller “The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne.” This announcement marks a significant genre shift for the creators while maintaining their partnership with Netflix.

The final chapter of Hawkins and a new beginning

The beloved sci-fi series that catapulted the Duffer brothers to fame is preparing for its grand finale. “Stranger Things” will conclude its remarkable journey with its fifth season releasing in three distinct parts. The staggered release schedule will see new episodes arriving on November 27, December 26, and finally January 1, 2026 – creating an extended farewell to the characters fans have followed since 2016.

While the conclusion of “Stranger Things” marks the end of an era, it also signals the beginning of an exciting new chapter for the creative duo. Their immediate pivot to adapting Currie's noir thriller demonstrates their versatility as storytellers and their eagerness to explore new narrative territories.

According to industry reports from Deadline, the Duffer brothers aren't wasting any time in developing their post-Hawkins portfolio. Their collaboration with author Ron Currie brings a distinctly different tone from the nostalgic sci-fi elements that defined their previous work, showcasing their range as filmmakers and producers.

Exploring “The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne”

Ron Currie's fifth novel, published in March 2025, introduces readers to a compelling protagonist unlike any the Duffer brothers have worked with before. Babs Dionne emerges as a fascinating character, simultaneously a caring grandmother and a ruthless crime boss controlling her small Maine community with unwavering authority.

The narrative unfolds in Waterville, Maine, significantly, Currie's hometown, within a neighborhood known as Little Canada. Babs, a proud Franco-American, maintains iron-fisted control over the local drug trade with help from her childhood friends and eldest daughter. The story takes a dramatic turn when her youngest daughter disappears, is later found dead, and a mysterious figure known only as “The Man” arrives to investigate at the behest of a drug kingpin.

What makes this adaptation particularly intriguing is the creative arrangement. Unlike typical Hollywood adaptations where original authors have limited input, Currie himself will write the screenplay alongside collaborator Joshua Mohr. Both will serve as executive producers, ensuring the novel's essence remains intact during its adaptation for the screen.

Here's what makes this adaptation uniquely positioned for success:

• Creative control is shared between established showrunners and the original author
• Setting in a real location familiar to the writer
• Strong female protagonist in a genre typically dominated by male characters
• Thematic exploration of family dynamics within criminal enterprises

Netflix's expanding relationship with the Duffer brothers

The streaming giant's continued investment in the creative vision of Matt and Ross Duffer extends beyond this single adaptation. Their multi-project deal with Netflix demonstrates the platform's confidence in their ability to deliver compelling content across various genres. The partnership has already yielded several exciting productions in different stages of development.

Project	Genre	Expected Release	Key Cast
The Boroughs	Mystery/Supernatural	2026	Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O'Hare
Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen	Psychological Horror	2026	Camila Morrone, Adam DiMarco
The Savage, Noble Death of Babs Dionne	Noir Thriller	TBA	Not Yet Announced

While the Duffers are credited as creators for some projects and producers for others, their creative fingerprint remains evident across this diverse portfolio. Their transition from 80s-inspired sci-fi to noir crime drama and psychological horror showcases their versatility and ambition as storytellers.

A new creative direction for streaming's power duo

The Duffer brothers' decision to adapt Currie's noir thriller represents a significant artistic pivot. After spending nearly a decade crafting the supernatural mysteries of Hawkins, Indiana, they're venturing into the gritty realism of organized crime in small-town Maine.

This transition mirrors the career trajectories of other successful showrunners who expanded beyond the genres that initially defined them. By embracing new narrative challenges, the Duffers are positioning themselves as versatile creators rather than specialists in a single storytelling style.

For Netflix, maintaining this creative relationship ensures a pipeline of potentially successful content from proven hitmakers. For viewers, it promises fresh stories from familiar storytellers who have demonstrated their ability to capture the audience's imagination.

As “Stranger Things” prepares to close its final chapter, fans can take comfort knowing that the creative minds behind the phenomenon are already charting exciting new territories in the streaming landscape.