Netflix is heading back into supernatural territory with the Duffer brothers — but this time, the monsters aren’t stalking teenagers. They’re circling a retirement community.
The streamer has unveiled the first-look images for The Boroughs, its upcoming eight-episode mystery series executive produced by Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer, the creative minds behind Stranger Things.
Set to premiere May 21, the series centers on a seemingly idyllic retirement community that harbors something far more sinister beneath its peaceful surface.
A Retirement Community With Secrets
At the center of the story is Sam Cooper (Alfred Molina), a grieving widower battling an existential crisis after the loss of his wife. When Sam experiences a monstrous encounter shortly after arriving, he finds himself pulled into an unlikely alliance with a misfit group of fellow residents who uncover a dark secret threatening their community.
And this isn’t just any ensemble.
The series stars:
- Alfre Woodard
- Clarke Peters
- Geena Davis
- Bill Pullman
- Denis O’Hare
Additional cast includes Jena Malone, Carlos Miranda, Seth Numrich, Alice Kremelberg, Ed Begley Jr., Dee Wallace, and more.
“Cocoon” Energy — With a Horror Edge
Creators and showrunners Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (previously behind The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance) described the tone as equal parts “scary, mysterious, exciting and emotional.”
The Duffer Brothers directly referenced Cocoon as inspiration, noting that they’d long wondered why no one had revisited that kind of story. According to them, what made The Boroughs click was its refusal to treat aging as a punchline.
Instead, the series centers older characters as complex, capable protagonists navigating grief, belonging, and very real supernatural danger.
As the Duffers put it, while the characters may ride golf carts instead of bikes, the spirit echoes Stranger Things: a story about belonging, growth, and facing the unknown — no matter your age.
A Different Kind of Sci-Fi Hero
If Stranger Things was about kids protecting their town, The Boroughs flips the lens — spotlighting retirees who prove their “golden years” might be more formidable than anyone expects.
And let’s be honest: Alfre Woodard and Clarke Peters in a supernatural mystery? That alone makes this one worth watching.
The Boroughs premieres globally on Netflix on May 21.
