'The Boroughs' New Series Produced by The Duffer Brothers Sets May 2026 Netflix Release & First Look Images

From the minds of The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance, a brand new and exciting sci-fi horror series, The Boroughs is coming to Netflix on May 21, 2026. Produced by Stranger Things creators The Duffer Brothers, the series has the potential to be Netflix’s next smash hit. Below, we have everything you need to know about The Boroughs, including all of the new first-look images.

The Boroughs is an upcoming Netflix Original series created by showrunners Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews. The pair are also executive producers on the series alongside The Duffer Brothers, Hilary Leavitt of Upside Down Pictures, and Ben Taylor.

Series showrunners and creators Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews shared the following on the making of the series:

“When Jeff was a child all he did was draw monsters and when Will was a child he started planning for his retirement. So a show about a group of retirees who fight monsters really plays to both our strengths. The result is an adventure about a group of unlikely heroes that we can’t wait for everyone to fall in love with.

From the beginning, we knew we wanted The Boroughs to feel equal parts scary, mysterious, exciting and emotional. The challenge was to create a world that could hold all of these different tones at once. Which is why it was so fun to work with the Duffer Brothers – the masters of balancing heart and horror.

According to some very unofficial napkin math, our stars bring something like 350 years of craft to The Boroughs. We knew they would be great. We didn’t expect them to be so fun. They can make you laugh or cry with just a look. Makes it whole lot easier on us writers.

Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina) is the heart of our story. He recently lost his wife and he’s trying to figure out what to do with the time he has left. Which is a question we all face. No matter our age. It’s just the stakes get higher the more years you have under your belt.

Everyone talks about wanting to make a show that teenagers can watch with their parents. We wanted to make one that teenagers could watch with their parents and their grandparents that everyone could enjoy.”

Jeffrey Addis And Will Matthews The Boroughs Duffer Brothers Netflix Series Sets May 2026 Release

Picture: Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, the showrunners and creators of The Boroughs

The Duffer Brothers had the following to say about The Boroughs and their excitement for the series:

“For years, we’ve wondered why no one has made a film like Ron Howard’s wonderful Cocoon since, well, Cocoon. Then, out of nowhere, Jeff and Will emailed us an idea for The Boroughs: a story about retirees and monsters. They were adamant that — unlike so many stories about older characters — this wouldn’t treat aging as a punchline. Instead, it would treat its characters as real people facing real challenges… along with a few supernatural ones. It was exactly the show we’d been dreaming of.

While the characters are a little older than the kids in Stranger Things (they ride golf carts instead of bikes), the spirit is very much the same. At its core, this is a story about belonging and growing up — no matter your age — filled with adventure, wonder, comedy, scares, and tears.

And most importantly, you’re going to fall in love with these characters.

Watching legends like Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Clarke Peters, Denis O’Hare, and Bill Pullman bring them to life was genuinely magical. The monsters are very cool — but it’s the characters who will stay with you.”

Pictures: The Duffer Brothers are executive producers on The Boroughs – Netflix

When is The Boroughs coming to Netflix?

Netflix has confirmed that The Boroughs will be released on Netflix on May 21, 2026.

What is the plot of The Boroughs?

Netflix has provided a logline for the series:

“In a seemingly perfect retirement community, a grieving newcomer’s monstrous encounter inspires him to join a misfit crew of unlikely heroes who uncover a dark secret that proves their “golden years” are more dangerous, and they are more formidable, than anyone expects.”

Who are the cast members of The Boroughs?

The lead and supporting cast of The Boroughs are as follows:

Alfred Molina (Spider-Man: No Way Home) as Sam.
Geena Davis (Thelma and Louise) as Renee.
Alfre Woodard (Salem’s Lot) as Judy.
Denis O’Hare (True Blood) as Wally.
Clarke Peters (The Wire) as Art.
Bill Pullman (The Sinner) as Jack.
Carlos Miranda (Station 19) as Paz.
Jena Malone (The Hunger Games) as Claire.
Seth Numrich (Turn) as Blaine
Alice Kremelberg (Renegade Nell) as Anneliese.

Additional cast members have been confirmed as:

Ed Begley Jr. (Better Call Saul) as Edward.
Dee Wallace (E.T the Extra-Terrestrial) as Grace.
Eric Edelstein (Minx) as Hank.
Rafael Casal (Loki) as Neil.
Mousa Hussein Kraish (American Gods) as Dr. McGinnis.
Beth Bailey (Manhattan) as Kayleigh.
Karan Soni (Deadpool) as Toby.
Jane Kaczmarek (Malcolm in the Middle) as Lilly.

First Look Images of The Boroughs

What is the episode count, and who directed the series?

In total, there are eight episodes. Episodes were directed by Ben Taylor, Augustine Frizzell, and Kyle Patrick.

Director breakdown by episode:

Episode 1 – Ben Taylor
Episode 2 – Ben Taylor
Episode 3 – Augustine Frizzell
Episode 4 -Augustine Frizzell
Episode 5 – Kyle Patrick
Episode 6 – Kyle Patrick
Episode 7 – Augustine Frizzell
Episode 8 – Augustine Frizzell

Directors of Photography on the series are Matthew Jensen (episodes 1, 2, 5 & 6) and Michelle Lawler (episodes 3, 4, 7, & 8).

Editors on the series are Noëmi Preiswerk (episodes 1, 5, 7, & 8), Jonathan Alberts (episode 2), Cindy Mollo (episodes 3 & 6), Christopher Nelson (episodes 4 & 7), and Misha Syeed (episode 7).

Are you excited for the release of The Boroughs on Netflix? Let us know in the comments below!

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