With the conclusion of Stranger Things last year, many viewers are searching for a similar story – a group of unlikely friends battling supernatural threats. The Boroughs might just be that next adventure, though with a unique twist: it’s set in a retirement home and shares a lot of the same vibes as Stranger Things.
In The Boroughs, Sam (Alfred Molina) moves into a retirement community after his wife’s passing, unsure of what to do with his life. He soon experiences something shocking that leads him to team up with a group of unexpected allies. Together, they uncover a disturbing secret and realize their retirement years are far more thrilling and challenging than they ever imagined.
Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of Stranger Things, are executive producers on The Boroughs, but Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews—known for the Netflix series Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance—are the show’s creators and showrunners. The Duffer Brothers have said they always wondered why no one had made a film similar to Ron Howard’s Cocoon since the original. Then Addiss and Matthews pitched them The Boroughs: a story about retirees facing monsters. The Duffers were excited because the show wouldn’t make fun of aging; instead, it would portray older characters as genuine people dealing with realistic problems—and a few supernatural ones. They said it was exactly the kind of show they’d been hoping to create.
The 1985 film Cocoon, which features retirees discovering a way to regain their youth, clearly influenced the Duffer Brothers, known for their love of the 1980s. They noticed a lack of stories – in movies or on TV – that centered on groups of older actors, especially ones where those characters are still active and having adventures. As the Duffer Brothers explained:
Though the characters are a bit older than those in Stranger Things – they drive golf carts instead of bikes – the show captures a similar feeling. It’s fundamentally a story about finding where you fit in and the challenges of growing up, regardless of age, and it’s packed with adventure, excitement, humor, frightening moments, and heartfelt emotion.
The show’s concept allowed the creators to bring in a remarkable cast of veteran actors. Alfred Molina is well-known for his roles in films like Spider-Man, Boogie Nights, and Raiders of the Lost Ark. He’s joined by Geena Davis (Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own) as Renee, Bill Pullman (The Sinner, Independence Day) as Jack, Alfre Woodard (Clemency, Salem’s Lot) as Judy, Denis O’Hare (American Horror Story, This Is Us) as Wally, and Clarke Peters (The Wire; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri) as Art. According to creators Addiss and Matthews, the actors not only delivered strong performances but also brought a lot of energy to the set, making the writing process much easier and more enjoyable. They were pleasantly surprised by how much fun the cast was to work with, and how powerfully they could convey emotion with just a glance.
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It sounds like The Boroughs could be something special when it drops in the spring.
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2026-02-25 20:12