For anyone missing Stranger Things after the Netflix mainstay said farewell at the end of last year, creators Matt and Ross Duffer‘s new series is about to arrive and bring similar sci-fi mystery vibes with it. The Boroughs premieres in just one week, with the duo serving as executive producers and giving a platform to another talented creative pair, Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews, who previously delivered the acclaimed, yet short-lived, The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance. Their story swaps Hawkins for a New Mexico retirement community and trades The Party for a group of misfit senior citizens drawn into a fight against horrors beyond their imagination. At the center of it all is two-time Emmy nominee and beloved Spider-Man villain Alfred Molina, playing a cynical new arrival in Sam Cooper, who can’t help but see his new home as a gilded cage.

Ahead of the premiere, we’re excited to feature The Boroughs as part of Collider’s Exclusive Summer Preview series and share a new image that shows Sam attempting to adjust to the idyllic community. He’s more intently focused on something in the sky than the party that’s going on behind him, complete with balloons and refreshments. The Boroughs may be immaculate, with perfectly manicured cul-de-sacs, luxurious houses, friendly residents, and no shortage of activities, but Sam doesn’t care about that. All the grieving widower wants is to figure out what to do with the time he has left on his own. So, naturally, he’s not all that concerned with mingling and instead has other, much scarier things on his mind.

Sam’s grumpiness gives way to fear when he has a terrifying encounter with some inexplicable creature soon after moving in. Dismissed by the staff as just a confused old man, he finds a place with his neighbors, including a former journalist, a spiritual seeker, a cynical music manager, and an ingenious doctor, who are all thrust into the role of unlikely heroes. They choose to spend their time discovering both the wonders and the darkness that lie beneath the surface of the Boroughs. In unraveling the mystery, however, they’ll find themselves in grave danger, both from whatever otherworldly evil is stalking the community and from the forces who don’t want the truth to see the light.

‘The Boroughs’ Treats Its Senior Heroes Seriously

A highlight of The Boroughs is its stacked cast of often older actors to embody the residents of the titular community. Starring opposite Molina are Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, Bill Pullman, Carlos Miranda, Jena Malone, Seth Numrich, and Alice Kremelberg, with Ed Begley Jr., Dee Wallace, Eric Edelstein, Rafael Casal, Mousa Hussein Kraish, Beth Bailey, Karan Soni, and Jane Kaczmarek rounding out the bunch. It was important to have such a strong lineup to bring to life characters that have far too often been underestimated. Speaking to Tudum, Addiss emphasized the prevalence of time as a theme of the series and how the goal was not to make age the butt of the joke. “It is part of why they are our heroes,” he said, highlighting their willingness to embrace this life-changing adventure even though their lives are already quite full.

Yet, both creators agreed that the preciousness of time was a theme that anyone could resonate with, even if the residents of The Boroughs have less of it. Matthews details how the show wrestles with the idea of choosing how to make the most of one’s time, whether they have their whole lives ahead of them, or are nearing the finish line and staring down the claws of some nightmarish monster.

“No one knows how much time they have left. Everyone of every age is trying to figure out what to do with the time they have left. And sometimes that question is inspiring all the things you want to do. Sometimes that’s a weight. There’s a lot of different ways to face the rest of your life, but everyone is always facing the rest of their life. And that’s why it’s a show for everybody.”

The Boroughs open up on Netflix on May 21. Check out our exclusive image above and stay tuned here at Collider for more new looks at exciting film and television titles from our summer preview series.

Release Date

May 21, 2026

Network

Netflix

Showrunner

Jeffrey Addiss, Will Matthews