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Stranger Things: Tales From ‘85 cast
Who's taking on the roles made iconic by the original cast?
Netflix
- James Hibbs
Published: Thursday, 23 April 2026 at 6:00 am
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It's only been a matter of months since Stranger Things came to an end, but it's already time to return to Hawkins, in new animated spin-off series Stranger Things: Tales From '85.
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Set in between seasons 2 and 3, in the winter of 1985, the series follows the show's heroes including Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Max, as they face a new threat lurking beneath the ice.
Showrunner Eric Robles recently told Empire that he and the team "wanted to go back to Hawkins and feel like a lost season" - meaning there's sure to be plenty of nostalgia for fans of the show's earlier seasons.
While Tales From '85 features predominantly well-known characters, they are played by an entirely new cast, with the roles originally played by the likes of Millie Bobby Brown and Finn Wolfhard being played by different actors.
But who stars in the series and who do they all play?
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Read on for everything you need to know about the cast of Stranger Things: Tales from '85.
Stranger Things: Tales from '85 cast guide: Full list of actors
Here are the main cast members and characters in Stranger Things: Tales from '85 – read on below for more info about who they are and where you've seen the actors before.
- Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven/Jane Hopper
- Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler
- Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson
- Elisha 'EJ' Williams as Lucas Sinclair
- Benjamin Plessala as Will Byers
- Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield
- Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper
- Jeremy Jordan as Steve Harrington
- Odessa A'zion as Nikki Baxter
- Janeane Garofalo as Anna Baxter
- Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel Fischer
Brooklyn Davey Norstedt plays Eleven/Jane Hopper
Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Eleven/Jane Hopper? Eleven is a telekinetic girl who mysteriously arrived in Hawkins in the first season of Stranger Things and soon proves herself to be the only match for the creatures of the Upside Down. Across the show's early seasons she was taken in by Hopper and formed a romantic relationship with Mike. In Tales From '85, she is trying to shield her friends from a new threat.
Where have I seen Brooklyn Davey Norstedt? Norstedt previously appeared in one episode of Apple TV series WeCrashed.
Luca Diaz plays Mike Wheeler
Luca Diaz as Mike Wheeler in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Mike Wheeler? Mike is an intelligent but snarky teenager, who is close friends with Lucas, Dustin and Will and is in a relationship with Eleven.
Where have I seen Luca Diaz? Diaz has had voice roles in Transformers: EarthSpark, Migration and Erin & Aaron.
Braxton Quinney plays Dustin Henderson
Braxton Quinney as Dustin Henderson in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Dustin Henderson? Dustin is a member of the Party, and friends with Will, Mike and Lucas. He is an enthusiastic science nerd who is obsessed with monsters and has the most extensive knowledge of Dungeons & Dragons. He formed an unlikely friendship with Steve in season 2, which this show closely follows.
Where have I seen Braxton Quinney? Quinney has appeared in Bigger, Stalked: Saving My Daughter and Hoppers.
Elisha 'EJ' Williams plays Lucas Sinclair
Elisha 'EJ' Williams as Lucas Sinclair in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Lucas Sinclair? Lucas is a member of the Party and a close friend of Mike, Will and Dustin, and grew close to Max in season 2.
Where have I seen Elisha 'EJ' Williams? Williams has had roles in series including Henry Danger, The Loud House, Puppy Dog Pals, The Wonder Years and Firebuds.
Benjamin Plessala plays Will Byers
Benjamin Plessala as Will Byers in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Will Byers? Will is a member of the party who was taken prisoner in the Upside Down during the events of the first season, and was possessed by the Mind Flayer in season 2.
Where have I seen Benjamin Plessala? Plessala has had roles in series including Criminal Minds, Shameless, Big Little Lies, Castlevania: Nocturne and Wylde Park, as well as the film Minions: The Rise of Gru.
Jolie Hoang-Rappaport plays Max Mayfield
Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max Mayfield in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Max Mayfield? Max is a skateboarder and tomboy who arrived in Hawkins with her aggressive older brother in season 2, and became friends with Mike, Will, Dustin and Eleven - while growing particularly close with Lucas.
Where have I seen Jolie Hoang-Rappaport? Hoang-Rappaport has had roles in series including Cousins for Life, Just Add Magic, Watchmen, Head of the Class and My Adventures with Superman, as well as films such as The Monkey King and In Your Dreams.
Brett Gipson plays Jim Hopper
Brett Gipson as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Jim Hopper? Hopper is the Hawkins chief of police, who formed a close bond with Eleven and took her in as his daughter after saving Will from the Demogorgon.
Where have I seen Brett Gipson? Gipson has had roles in series including NCIS: Los Angeles, Community, Shameless, SWAT and Station 19, as well as films such as Monkey Fight and Last Stop.
Jeremy Jordan plays Steve Harrington
Jeremy Jordan as Steve Harrington in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Steve Harrington? Steve is a popular student at Hawkins high school, who formed a close bond with Dustin in season 2, and often acted as a protector of the kids while helping to fight the Demogorgon.
Where have I seen Jeremy Jordan? Jordan has had roles in series including Smash, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, The Flash, Tangled: The Series, Supergirl, Superkitties and Hazbin Hotel.
Odessa A'zion plays Nikki Baxter
Odessa A'zion as Nikki Baxter in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Nikki Baxter? Nikki is a transfer student who becomes friends with the party.
Where have I seen Odessa A'zion? A'zion has had roles in series including Nashville, Love, Fam, Grand Army, The Tiny Chef Show, Ghosts and I Love LA, as well as films such as Hellraiser, Until Dawn and Marty Supreme.
Janeane Garofalo plays Anna Baxter
Janeane Garofalo as Anna Baxter in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Anna Baxter? Anna is Nikki's mum and a biology teacher at Hawkins Middle School, filling in for Mr Clarke while he's taking a sabbatical for the semester.
Where have I seen Janeane Garofalo? Garofalo has had roles in series including The Larry Sanders Show, Felicity, The Sopranos, The West Wing, 24, Broad City, Younger, Billions and Harley Quinn, as well as films such as The Cable Guy, Dogma, Mystery Men, Titan AE, The Adventures of Rocky and Bullwinkle, Wet Hot American Summer, Ratatouille and Flora & Ulysses.
Lou Diamond Phillips plays Daniel Fischer
Lou Diamond Phillips as Daniel Fischer in Stranger Things: Tales From '85. Netflix
Who is Daniel Fischer? Daniel is the clerk at Hawkins Food Mart who befriends Dustin.
Where have I seen Lou Diamond Phillips? Phillips has had roles in series such as Wolf Lake, Numb3rs, SGU Stargate Universe, Cougar Town, Longmire, Goliath, Blue Bloods, Elena of Avalor, Prodigal Son, The Legend of Vox Machina, The Chair Company and Firebuds, as well as films including Werewolves and Keep Quiet.
Stranger Things: Tales From '85 will air on Netflix on Thursday 23 April. All Stranger Things seasons are available to stream on Netflix now. Sign up for Netflix from £5.99 a month. Netflix is also available on Sky Glass and Virgin Media Stream.
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Authors
James HibbsDrama Writer
James Hibbs is a Drama Writer for Radio Times, covering programmes across both streaming platforms and linear channels. He previously worked in PR, first for a B2B agency and subsequently for international TV production company Fremantle. He possesses a BA in English and Theatre Studies and an NCTJ Level 5 Diploma in Journalism.
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