The gates of the Upside Down may have finally closed with the Stranger Things series finale on New Year’s Eve, but the stars of Netflix’s flagship hit are already dominating the 2026 entertainment landscape. From Marvel Cinematic Universe debuts to high-stakes Broadway runs, here is where you will see your favorite Hawkins survivors next.
Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven
Millie Bobby Brown is trading her psychic abilities for Victorian sleuthing as she returns to her other massive Netflix franchise in Enola Holmes 3. Slated for a Summer 2026 release, the third installment takes the young detective to the sun-drenched coast of Malta.
The plot sees Enola facing an international conspiracy that pushes her deductive skills to the limit, while her personal life takes a romantic turn; first-look images recently went viral showing Louis Partridge’s Viscount Tewkesbury down on one knee. With Henry Cavill confirmed to return as Sherlock and Himesh Patel reprising his role as Dr. Watson, Millie is also continuing her evolution as a powerhouse producer through her company, PCMA Productions.
Sadie Sink as Max Mayfield
Perhaps the most buzzed-about career move of 2026 belongs to Sadie Sink, who is set to make her blockbuster debut in the MCU. While Marvel is keeping her specific role under wraps for Spider-Man: Brand New Day (releasing July 31, 2026), industry insiders are heavily speculating that she will play a pivotal new hero.
Before she hits the big screen, however, Sadie is heading to London’s West End to lead a prestigious production of Romeo & Juliet. The play, running from March to June 2026, marks a major return to her stage roots following her legendary performance in Stranger Things 5.
Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler
Finn Wolfhard is leaning into a new era of comedy and music, starting with his highly anticipated gig hosting Saturday Night Live on January 17, 2026. On the film front, he is currently in post-production for Crash Land, a high-octane stunt comedy that promises to showcase a more physical, slapstick side of the actor.
However, Wolfhard has made it clear that music is his primary focus for the immediate future; his band, The Aubreys, is prepping for a 2026 summer tour, and Finn has hinted at recording a solo album later this year, signaling a shift toward his identity as a multifaceted musician.
Maya Hawke as Robin Buckley
Maya Hawke is officially joining the ranks of another massive dystopian franchise in The Hunger Games: Sunrise on the Reaping, coming November 20, 2026. She has been cast as Wiress, a brilliant former victor from District 3, in a story that explores the 50th Games (the Second Quarter Quell).
Hawke recently caused a stir during a talk show appearance by accidentally hinting at a Jennifer Lawrence cameo in the film. Beyond Panem, she is set to star in the ensemble comedy One Night Only (August 7, 2026), directed by Will Gluck, further cementing her status as a leading voice of her generation.
Joe Keery as Steve Harrington
Joe Keery is leaving the “babysitter” trope behind for a gritty, R-rated survival role in Cold Storage, hitting theaters February 13, 2026. Directed by Jonny Campbell and written by Jurassic Park’s David Koepp, the film stars Keery as Teacake, a night-shift worker trapped in a military storage facility. He must team up with a bioterror operative (played by Liam Neeson) to stop a brain-controlling fungus from escaping to the surface. Early trailers suggest a heavy dose of “gross-out” horror and action, marking a significant departure from the charm of Steve Harrington.
Caleb McLaughlin as Lucas Sinclair
Caleb McLaughlin is taking a creative leap into the world of animation with the lead role in GOAT, an original sports comedy from Sony Pictures Animation. Releasing February 13, 2026, the film follows a young goat voiced by Caleb who dreams of playing “roarball”—a high-contact sport usually reserved for larger predators.
The project is a high-profile collaboration with NBA star Stephen Curry and features an eclectic voice cast including Gabrielle Union and fellow Stranger Things alum David Harbour, proving Caleb’s versatility across different genres.
David Harbour as Jim Hopper
David Harbour is keeping his plate remarkably full with two very different versions of “tough guys.” He is currently filming Violent Night 2, set for a December 4, 2026 release, where he returns as the hammer-wielding, real-life Santa Claus; this time, Kristen Bell joins the cast as Mrs. Claus. Simultaneously, Harbour is firmly entrenched in the MCU as the Red Guardian for Thunderbolts* and the upcoming Avengers: Doomsday. His status as one of Hollywood’s most in-demand character actors is undisputed as he moves seamlessly between action-comedy and superhero epics.
Gaten Matarazzo as Dustin Henderson
Gaten Matarazzo is diversifying his portfolio with both prestige animation and edgy comedy. He voices “Lucky” in the star-studded adaptation of George Orwell’s Animal Farm (May 1, 2026), directed by Andy Serkis.
On the live-action side, he is executive producing and starring in an Untitled Hulu Comedy about a pair of college roommates whose simple attempt to get pizza turns into an absurd odyssey. Matarazzo has expressed a desire to move into “edgier” territory to prove his range beyond the lovable Dustin Henderson.
Noah Schnapp as Will Byers
While his co-stars are filling up their IMDB pages, Noah Schnapp is focusing on a major academic milestone: his May 2026 graduation from the University of Pennsylvania’s Wharton School. Having spent the last few years balancing the show with a business degree, Noah is currently prioritizing his entrepreneurial ventures, including his sustainable snack brand, TBH. While he is actively reading scripts, Schnapp has noted that he is being “very picky” about his first post-Hawkins role, looking for a project that allows him to build a completely new identity as an adult actor.
Natalia Dyer as Nancy Wheeler
Natalia is set to lead the cast of Chestnut, a queer coming-of-age drama that has been highly anticipated on the festival circuit and is slated for a wide streaming release in Spring 2026. The film follows a recent college graduate (Dyer) who finds herself entangled in a complex relationship with a charismatic couple during a sweltering summer in Philadelphia.
Moving from the ethereal to the visceral, Natalia also stars in the survival thriller God’s Country, where she plays a young woman forced into a brutal game of cat-and-mouse in the remote wilderness. This project, which has entered the final stages of post-production for a late 2026 release, is already drawing comparisons to The Revenant for its grit and physical intensity.
