The Boroughs showrunners slap down Stranger Things fan theories

The Duffer Brothers have been plenty busy after the monumental success of Stranger Things. They’ve been working behind the scenes for several Netflix hits, but their latest venture as executive producers might be the closest thing to Stranger Things yet.

The Boroughs, a brand-new series from showrunners Jeffrey Addis and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), follows a group of elderly residents who join a picturesque retirement community located in New Mexico. The village is known as the Boroughs, a paradise of golf carts, friendly neighbors, and staff who live to cater to the residents’ every whim. Unfortunately, as Sam Cooper (played by Alfred Molina) discovers, there is something far more sinister lurking underneath the Boroughs’ picture-perfect veneer — something that will force him, as well as his new neighbors, to come together to confront the menacing threat from another world.

If that premise sounds very Stranger Things, you’re not the only one thinking that. Ever since The Boroughs was first revealed, fans of the Duffers’ critically acclaimed sci-fi series have been speculating whether it’s a secret Stranger Things spinoff.

Ahead of The Boroughs‘ premiere, Polygon posed this fan theory to the series’ showrunners. Were fans right in wondering if The Boroughs is set in the same world as Stranger Things?

“I want to be so clear that this is not at all the case,” Addis told Polygon in a video interview. “If you like Stranger Things, we hope you’ll like our show, but we want to be super clear. It is not in any way in the Stranger Things universe. What Matt and Ross created is their own thing, and it’s so special, and it should be theirs. We’re separate.”

While Addis was quick to slap down that theory, fellow co-creator and showrunner Matthews admitted that the conspiracy theories he had seen surrounding The Boroughs and Stranger Things — namely that the kids, like Will and Mike, had grown up to retire at the Boroughs — were fascinating.

“It’s not true,” Matthews told Polygon, “but it is a good idea.”

The Boroughs may not be part of the Stranger Things universe, but considering its creators described the series as “Stranger Things meets Cocoon,” there’s still going to be plenty for fans to love in Addis and Matthews’ new show.

The Boroughs begins streaming on Netflix on May 21.