The surprise cancellation of the series The Boroughs after just one season would actually hide a curious backstage war. Between budgets spiraling out of control, betrayals and talent fleeing to competitors, the rupture would be sealed between Netflix and the Duffer brothers.
After the end of Stranger Things, the universe is barely seeing the finish line and the Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross, are actively gearing up for their leap into traditional cinema. But before they pack their bags, the two brothers delivered on Netflix the first season of The Boroughs. An intriguing proposition on paper, conceived as a kind of bizarre thematic bridge between the mysteries of Hawkins and the sci‑fi classic Cocoon, all wrapped in a luxurious cast (Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Bill Pullman…)
While this first foray into the land of the retirees had left us somewhat unconvinced, the big finale clearly left the door open for a second season. Except that Netflix’s axe fell without warning a few days ago, with the outright cancellation of The Boroughs. A brutal decision that could be the symptom of a highly toxic, loud divorce between the streaming giant and its long-time protégés.
Netflix and the Duffers: A Fallout Behind the Scenes
The Boroughs had indeed started slowly with 5.6 million of full views in four days and a total of 15.2 million views in eleven days. A score rather disappointing for the series and which could explain its early cancellation given its fairly impressive budget. According to sources reported by The Hollywood Reporter, each episode of the series would have cost at least 10 million dollars, some rumors pointing to even larger budget overruns.
With a total bill well over 80 million dollars for only eight installments, the ruthless cost-to-audience ratio would thus have sealed the fate of the elderly show. The fans’ confusion remains total, with many believing the cancellation came from elsewhere.
Behind Netflix’s cold arithmetic would lie a backstage melodrama tied to the signing of a four-year exclusive deal by the Duffer brothers with rival Paramount. This alleged betrayal reportedly drove Netflix’s new executives wild, especially since the current regime wasn’t the one who greenlit The Boroughs in the first place. The former leaders have since departed for Amazon MGM and Paramount, where the Duffers were welcomed with open arms to oversee their future films and series.
Where the debate sharpens most, though, is the fate of the platform’s golden goose, the unshakable Stranger Things, whose future could be affected by this toxic climate. Several sources close to Netflix have attempted to douse the flames by saying that relations remain perfectly healthy between the Duffer brothers and Netflix, and that multiple spin-off projects are still in the works. For now, it’s impossible to know whether this is a genuine effort at strategic collaboration or merely a damage-control exercise.
Meanwhile, the Duffer brothers are already turning their gaze toward cinema. Paramount has officially announced the release date for their enigmatic secret film, now scheduled for November 3, 2028 in the United States.
