The Duffer Brothers are stepping back into the Netflix spotlight. After closing the book on ‘Stranger Things,’ Matt and Ross Duffer are returning to the platform with a brand-new horror project called ‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen.’
While the Hawkins story is now behind them, their taste for tension, fear, and deeply uncomfortable situations clearly isn’t. Early details and images suggest this will be far more unsettling.
The Duffers Return To Netflix After ‘Stranger Things’ Ends
When Stranger Things wrapped up, many expected the Duffer Brothers to either take a long break or shift platforms entirely. Instead, they chose to stay connected to Netflix. Through their production company, Upside Down Pictures, they signed on to deliver three new shows for the streamer, all expected to arrive in 2026.
Related: 10 ‘Stranger Things’ Questions the Finale Never Answered
‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen‘ is the first of those projects to emerge. While Matt and Ross Duffer aren’t showrunning this time, they’re deeply involved as executive producers.
At the same time, Entertainment Weekly released some images that make it clear this new show is going to be all about isolation, cold settings, and a sense of danger, rushing in all at once. However, this time, Haley Z. Boston will be at the helm, and the story will be solely based on emotional and psychological horror rather than jump scares.
What To Expect From ‘Something Very Bad Is Going to Happen’
The story focuses on Rachel Harkin, who is five days before her wedding. Rachel travels with her fiancé, Nicky Cunningham, and their destination is his wealthy family’s secluded vacation home, which is meant to be a short visit before the big day.
Once they arrive, things start to feel off. Jennifer Jason Leigh plays Nicky’s mother, with Jeff Wilbusch, Karla Crome, Gus Birney, Ted Levine, and Sawyer Fraser also appearing. As Rachel meets the family, she becomes increasingly aware that she’s entering a world full of unspoken rules and shared history, none of which she understands.
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Boston has explained that the show isn’t about one obvious disaster. “Something bad happens in every show,” she said, but the tension here comes from not knowing what the “very bad thing” actually is. That’s what keeps both Rachel and the audience on edge.
Even when Rachel isn’t on screen, the emotional focus remains on her. Boston compared the experience to meeting your partner’s family for the first time, where everyone shares a past you’re not part of, and you can feel it without anyone saying a word.
Alongside this series, they’re also developing The Boroughs and the animated prequel ‘Stranger Things: Tales from ’85‘. Even with a new deal at Paramount, this project makes one thing clear: their relationship with Netflix isn’t over yet.
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