Netflix Is Quietly Releasing a 'Stranger Things' Replacement This Month, With a Boomer Twist
Something strange is happening in the suburbs of New Mexico. On May 21, a new series, produced by the Duffer Brothers (famous for Stranger Things), is hitting Netflix, and if you're missing your Stranger Things fix and you always wondered what a new version of Stranger Things might feel like with a bunch of older actors, well, you're in luck. The new Netflix sci-fi series is called The Boroughs, and for those who want to see some beloved Boomer actors dealing with some paranormal activity, this show is set to deliver the nostalgic goods.
Here's what to know about this under-the-radar new series, and why it might just be Netflix's unofficial Stranger Things replacement.
The Boroughs Trailer and Premise
The Boroughs focuses on Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina), who has just moved to a retirement community, and starts to notice strange things. Soon, he teams up with fellow residents Judy (Alfre Woodard) and Wally (Denis O'Hare) to uncover what may be a hidden alien presence in The Boroughs, which, perhaps, has been there for decades.
The series seems to combine a retro feeling reminiscent of the 1985 classic sci-fi sleeper Cocoon, with what can only be described as a Stranger Things sensibility. But, instead of teenagers in Indiana, these are Boomers in New Mexico. Will it work? The incredible amount of talent involved, and the chilling trailer suggest that this might be one series not to sleep on, because surely, after May 21, spoilers will be all over the internet.
The Boroughs Release Date and Cast
Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, the Duffer Brothers are producing this series, but were not the writers. Instead, the show comes from Addiss and Matthews, who previously worked on The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, also on Netflix.
The cast for the Boroughs is a who's who of movie stars that everyone loves, especially if you love films from the '80s, '90s, and early 2000s. The cast includes:
- Alfred Molina as Sam
- Alfre Woodard as Judy
- Denis O'Hare as Wally
- Bill Pullman as Jack
- Geena Davis as Renee
- Clarke Peters as Art
- Jena Malone as Claire
- Carlos Miranda as Paz
- Seth Numrich as Blaine
- Alice Kremelberg as Anneliese
- Rafael Casal as Neil
- Karan Soni as Toby
- Jane Kaczmarek as Lilly
- Mousa Hussein Kraish as Dr. McGinnis
- Eric Edelstein as Hank
- Dee Wallace as Grace
- Beth Bailey as Kayleigh
- Ed Begley Jr. as Edward
The Boroughs Season 1 will consist of eight episodes, all of which will be streaming to binge on May 21, 2026.
This story was originally published by Men's Journal on May 7, 2026, where it first appeared in the Entertainment section. Add Men's Journal as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
2026 The Arena Group Holdings, Inc. All rights reserved.
This story was originally published May 7, 2026 at 11:44 AM.