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Netflix just dropped the release date and first look images for The Boroughs. The Duffer Brothers are producing this one but they’re not the ones running it. Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews created the series, and they’re handling showrunner duties.
The series hits Netflix on May 21st with all eight episodes dropping at once. Binge away.
What’s It Actually About?
The Boroughs takes place in a retirement community somewhere in the New Mexico desert. A grieving newcomer played by Alfred Molina has some kind of monstrous encounter that kicks everything off. He teams up with a group of unlikely heroes to stop an otherworldly threat from stealing the one thing they don’t have much of anymore. Time.
The official synopsis says they “uncover a dark secret that proves their ‘golden years’ are more dangerous, and they are more formidable, than anyone expects.” Honestly that’s a hell of a hook. Retirement homes already feel vaguely sinister. Add monsters and you’ve got something.
The Cast Is Stacked
Alfred Molina leads as Sam. Geena Davis plays Renee. Alfre Woodard is Judy. Denis O’Hare plays Wally. Clarke Peters is Art and Bill Pullman rounds out the main cast as Jack.
Supporting roles include Jena Malone as Claire and Carlos Miranda as Paz. Also in the mix are Seth Numrich and Alice Kremelberg and Rafael Casal. That’s a ridiculous amount of talent for one show.
The Duffers Have Wanted This Since Cocoon
The Duffer Brothers said they’ve been waiting for someone to make something like Cocoon since Cocoon came out. Then Addiss and Matthews pitched them a story about retirees fighting monsters. They were immediately sold.
“They were adamant that — unlike so many stories about older characters — this wouldn’t treat aging as a punchline,” the Duffers said in a statement. “Instead it would treat its characters as real people facing real challenges… along with a few supernatural ones.”
Addiss and Matthews have been just as enthusiastic about the collaboration. They said working with the Duffer Brothers has been a dream. “They bring the perfect balance of heart and horror to our story.”
It’s Not Stranger Things With Senior Citizens
The creators are clear that The Boroughs has its own identity. Sure the Duffer Brothers are producing, but this isn’t Stranger Things with golf carts instead of bikes. Well actually there will probably be golf carts, but you get the point.
Alfre Woodard talked about the show in an interview with Netflix, and said it filmed in Albuquerque for seven months. She described it as quirky and fun but also genuinely scary. People die. The supernatural elements are real, but the tone is apparently different from what you’d expect.
What To Actually Expect
Ben Taylor from Sex Education directed multiple episodes including the pilot. He’s also an executive producer. The series was shot between September 2024 and early 2025.
First look images show the cast in what looks like a sun-baked desert community. The vibe seems both cozy and unsettling at the same time which tracks for a retirement community even without monsters.
The Duffer Brothers Have A Lot Going On
The Boroughs is just one of several projects the Duffers have in the works at Netflix. They’re also producing Something Very Bad Is Going To Happen which drops in March. Then there’s Stranger Things: Tales from ’85 coming in April.
After that they’re moving their overall deal to Paramount in 2026. But their existing Netflix projects will still see the light of day. They’re not abandoning ship just yet.
The Boroughs premieres globally on Netflix on May 21st. All eight episodes drop at once so clear your schedule. Expect a trailer in the coming weeks. 🏜️👴🏻👵🏻
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries
