Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Recasts Main Characters for Animated Series

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A new animated series called Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 is coming to Netflix in 2026, and it will feature a completely new group of voice actors. Netflix recently shared a sneak peek, including some images, revealing the story takes place in Hawkins during a strange and dangerous event in the winter between the second and third seasons. One detail in particular is sure to surprise viewers.

The main characters we know and love—Eleven, Mike, Dustin, Lucas, Will, Max, and Hopper—are all back, but they’ll sound a little different. The actors have been recast, which might seem like a big change, but it’s actually pretty common in popular animated series. If you’re worried about how it will sound, consider the success of Star Wars: The Clone Wars – it’s a great example of how a recast can still work really well.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Is Recasting All Of The Main Characters

Netflix

Instead of having the original actors voice the characters, Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 features a completely new cast. This allows the creators to develop characters perfectly suited for animation, leading to fresh takes that fit the show’s updated style and speed. Here’s a look at both the new and original voice actors:

Character New Voice Actor Original Actor
Eleven Brooklyn Davey Norstedt Millie Bobby Brown
Mike Luca Diaz Finn Wolfhard
Dustin Braxton Quinney Gaten Matarazzo
Lucas EJ (Elisha) Williams Caleb McLaughlin
Will Ben Plessala Noah Schnapp
Max Jolie Hoang-Rappaport Sadie Sink
Hopper Brett Gipson David Harbour

A lot of the voice actors in this project are just starting their careers or are moving into more visible roles. Brooklyn Davey Norstedt, who voices Eleven, had a small part in the Apple TV show WeCrashed. Others, like Jolie Hoang Rappaport (Max) and Luca Diaz (Mike), aren’t as well-known, which allows them to bring a unique and energetic quality to their performances.

The film also stars well-known actors like Odessa A’zion (known for her roles in Hellraiser (2022) and Marty Supreme), Janine Garofalo (Wet Hot American Summer), and Lou Diamond Phillips (Longmire).

Why Stranger Things’ Cast Is Not Returning For The Animated Show

Netflix

Okay, so as a huge fan, I’ve been trying to figure out why they recast some of the voices, and it seems like a bunch of things probably played a part. First, the original actors are older now, and honestly, their voices just don’t quite match how they sounded as kids in those earlier seasons of Stranger Things. Plus, they’re all super busy with big movies and shows, and a full animated series is a huge time commitment. But I’m guessing the biggest reason is just money. Voice acting is a separate deal, and animation is already crazy expensive, so bringing back those big-name actors just wasn’t practical, financially speaking.

I don’t think this is necessarily a bad sign. Consider Star Wars: The Clone Wars. They recast Anakin Skywalker with Matt Lanter and Obi-Wan Kenobi with James Arnold Taylor, and both actors became incredibly popular, delivering memorable performances. They even added depth to those characters that the movies didn’t explore. In fact, many fans consider The Clone Wars to be the best Star Wars show ever, and even better than the prequel films.

The most important thing is whether the new actors can capture the essence of these well-known characters. Because the creators of Stranger Things – the Duffer Brothers and Shawn Levy – are involved as executive producers, the show stays true to what fans love about the series. Just like the original cast once started as newcomers, this next group of young actors now has a chance to make a strong impression.

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2025-11-06 21:01