It’s Officially the End of an Era for ‘Stranger Things’

Stranger Things: The First Shadow is a stage play based on the hit Netflix show Stranger Things. The show is set mainly in 1959, years before any of the young heroes from the Netflix series are born. But we do meet younger versions of characters like Jim Hopper, Joyce Byers (then Maldonado), and Bob Newby. The show mostly follows a young Henry Creel, who goes on to become the fearsome villain Vecna.

The First Shadow officially opened on the West End in London in Dec 2023, and on Broadway in New York City in Apr. 2025. The play received mixed reviews but won many accolades, including Tony Awards for Best Scenic Design of a Play, Best Lighting Design of a Play, and Best Sound Design of a Play. According to TheWrap, nearly 1.6 million tickets to The First Shadow have been sold between the West End and Broadway productions, spread over more than 1,500 performances.

That will all come to an end soon. Stranger Things: The First Shadow will wrap up its run at the Phoenix Theatre in London on Dec. 27, 2026. The curtain will close on the Broadway production at the Marquis Theatre shortly thereafter, on Jan. 3, 2027.

The First Shadow was written by Kate Trefry and directed by Stephen Daldry. Matt and Ross Duffer, the creators of the original Stranger Things show, praised the cast and crew in a statement:

When the legendary Stephen Daldry first came to us with the idea of making a Stranger Things play, we were stunned — both by the fact that Stephen wanted to do this, and that he believed it could work. And boy, did it work. We remain awed by what Stephen, Kate Trefry, Justin Martin, and all the brilliant behind-the-scenes wizards were able to pull off: cinematic theater unlike anything else out there. Their incredible work drew audiences from all over — a majority of whom had never even been to a Broadway show before. We’d also like to give a standing ovation to the incredibly gifted actors who stepped into these roles — including the Tony-nominated Louis McCartney — and to the fans, who made each and every performance so memorable.

So if Stranger Things: The First Shadow was a Tony-winning moneymaker, you may be wondering why it’s closing down. While we can’t be certain, it’s known that the special effects for the play are very elaborate and expensive. According to sources at the New York Post, The First Shadow cost $1 million to run per week on Broadway. And according to TheWrap, the play grossed $859,339 on Broadway last week, where it played to a house at 74% capacity. The math may not have been working out over the long term.

If you haven’t gotten a chance to see The First Shadow and won’t before it closes, not all hope is lost. Although there’s no release date yet, a professional recording of the play will be available to stream on Netflix sooner or later. And beyond that, the wider Stranger Things universe is still very much alive. Stranger Things: Tales From ’85, an animated series starring the younger characters from the original show, has a second season on the way. There’s also a live-action spin-off in the works that will feature an entirely new cast.