SNL Mocks STRANGER THINGS With Fake Spin-Offs And The Infamous ‘Episode 9’

SNL Mocks STRANGER THINGS With Fake Spin-Offs And The Infamous ‘Episode 9’

Making his hosting debut on Saturday Night Live this weekend, Finn Wolfhard starred in a sketch mocking future Stranger Things spin-offs. Joining him were co-stars Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo.

By MattThomas - Jan 18, 2026 10:01 AM EST
Filed Under: Television

Finn Wolfhard hosted Saturday Night Live this weekend, and naturally the show included a skit about Netflix's Stranger Things. Making his hosting debut for the first SNL episode of 2026, Wolfhard was joined by fellow Stranger Things co-stars Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo for a pre-recorded sketch that imagined possible future spin-offs for the hit series.

Mocking the industry's need to milk every hit franchise dry, the sketch takes the form a Netflix trailer, announcing numerous Stranger Things spin-offs. Among the faux shows announced is "Strangerous Minds," featuring hunk-turned-hero Steve Harrington as he takes a new teaching job in inner-city Los Angeles. There's also "The Wheeler Report," a series about Nancy Wheeler's investigative journalist career.

Finally, there's "Mike in Manhattan," a clear spoof of Sex in the City, which sees Mike Wheeler take his writing career to the big city. This is where McLaughlin and Matarazzo make their guest appearances, taking turns gossiping out their respective sex lives while sipping on martinis.

The sketch also pokes fun at Will's lengthy coming out scene, which it says is "still going on."

In addition to the sequel spin-offs, the promo includes an announcement of a series reboot, a complete retelling of Stranger Things from an insignificant point of view in "Stranger Things: Oops! All Mike's Dad."

Before the sketch ends, it addresses one more heavily discussed topic: the Episode 9 conspiracy. "Remember that mysterious ninth episode the internet was convinced existed? It didn't, but it does now and we got almost all the main kids back!" the promo exclaims before showing Mike, Lucas, and Dustin in Iceland, where we last saw Eleven.

"Everything we thought happened was an illusion that was planted by Vecna," Mike claims, referencing a popular fan theory regarding the ending of the Stranger Things series. With his friends doubting him, Mike gives them a reason to believe him, or rather "Eleven" reasons.

Now, obviously none of these announcements or spin-off series are real, but Netflix does have multiple future Stranger Things-related projects planned. This includes an animated spin-off set between Seasons 2 and 3 of the original show, titled Stranger Things: Tales from '85. It's slated for release this year, though no specific date has been announced.

There's also an untitled live-action spin-off officially in development that will take place in the same universe as the series but focus on all-new characters in a different location and time. This project is still in early development with no release window yet.

About The Author:
MattThomas
Member Since 10/11/2017
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