Netflix renews Stranger Things

Stranger Things’ second run will premiere next year

Netflix has renewed hit supernatural drama Stranger Things for a second season and has greenlit two new tween series.

The US SVoD service confirmed a second run of Stranger Things will return in 2017 by releasing a teaser video.

The show was recently named the third most-watched Netflix Original, after the first series of Fuller House and the fourth of Orange is the New Black.

Set in the 1980s, the drama is written and directed by filmmaker brothers Matt and Ross Duffer (Wayward Pines). Executive produced by Shawn Levy and Dan Cohen, it follows the mysterious disappearance of a young boy in Indiana and stars Winona Ryder and David Harbour.

The second season will consist of nine episodes and is set 18 months after the end of the first eight-part run.

Meanwhile, Netflix is set to produce its first UK children’s programmes after signing a deal with BBC children’s channel CBBC and German pubcaster ZDF to fund an adaptation of The Worst Witch, a book series for pre-teens by Jill Murphy.

The 12-episode show will air next year on CBBC and ZDF before heading to Netflix. It is being produced by CBBC Productions in collaboration with ZDF, ZDF Enterprises and Netflix.

The Californian streamer is also launching a 10-part coming-of-age drama from All3Media-owned prodco Lime Pictures.

Currently known as Untitled Horse Mystery Project, the series will tell the story of a 15-year-old who learns “that life is all about failing – and learning to pick yourself up again” through her friendship with a horse called Raven.

Andy Yeatman, Netflix’s head of children’s programmes, said: “While set in very different contexts, both shows centre around characters who are learning to deal with and overcome hardship, while also enjoying the journey and all its surprises.”