The much-anticipated spin-off series Stranger Things: Tales From 85 has finally landed on Netflix, offering fans a fresh yet familiar journey back to the enigmatic town of Hawkins. While the production team made a bold decision to recast all the principal roles from the original show, one familiar face remains—though in an entirely new guise.
One Original Cast Member Returns
Robert Englund, the iconic horror actor best known for his portrayal of Freddy Krueger in the Nightmare on Elm Street franchise, reprises his association with the Stranger Things universe. However, instead of reprising his role as Victor Creel from Season 4, Englund takes on a brand-new character named Cosmo Russo, the editor-in-chief of The Weekly Watcher, a sensationalist tabloid magazine based in Hawkins.
Who Is Cosmo Russo?
Cosmo is described as a man who thrives on the public's appetite for outlandish headlines, but privately harbours a genuine belief that Hawkins is a hotbed of supernatural phenomena. In the spin-off, he acquires a photograph of Eleven battling a monster from the Upside Down, prompting the gang to worry about the potential fallout if the image is published.
The character marks a significant departure from Englund's previous role in the series. In Season 4, he played Victor Creel, the blind and traumatised father of Henry Creel (later known as Vecna), who had been wrongfully incarcerated for decades in Pennhurst Mental Hospital. In contrast, Cosmo is a sharp, ambitious editor who uses his tabloid to peddle sensational stories, though he secretly believes the strangeness surrounding Hawkins is all too real.
A Fresh Take on Hawkins
Set between earlier seasons of the original show, Tales From 85 reunites fans with beloved characters such as Dustin, Lucas, Will, Mike, Eleven, Max, Steve, and even Sheriff Hopper. However, viewers will notice that these characters sound different, as the entire main cast has been recast to reflect a younger age appropriate for the timeline. The decision to recast was deliberate, aiming to provide a fresh perspective while maintaining the essence of the characters.
The series consists of 10 episodes, all now available for streaming. While it remains unclear whether Cosmo will appear in future instalments, his introduction adds a new layer of intrigue to the expanding Stranger Things universe.
Stranger Things: Tales From 85 is streaming exclusively on Netflix.
