Summary

• Stephen King is developing an adaptation of his 2019 sci-fi horror novel The Institute, which sounds similar to Stranger Things.
• The Institute centers around gifted children kidnapped and brought to a secret facility.
• Ben Barnes' character in The Institute resembles Hopper from Stranger Things.

created by the Duffer Brothers, debuted in 2016 and instantly took the world by storm. After four triumphant seasons, Stranger Things is sadly set to end with its fifth season, which will consist of eight episodes and likely premiere in late 2025 or early 2026.

The Stranger Things cast and crew began filming season 5 in January 2024 and, as of the writing of this article, are still shooting the final episodes.

Unfortunately, by the time the new episodes roll around, it will have been three (or more) years since Stranger Things' final story in season 5, they should also be looking for a show that can replace the Netflix sci-fi horror drama.

Stephen King's The Institute Is Like Dr. Brenner's Secret Facility In Stranger Things

MGM+ Greenlit An Adaptation Of Stephen King's 2019 Novel

A new The Institute is in development at MGM+, and parts of its premise are comparable to Stranger Things. MGM+ has greenlit the adaptation and given it an eight-episode order. Ben Barnes and Mary-Louise Parker are set to star in The Institute, and they, along with other unannounced cast , will start filming the series in Nova Scotia sometime this year. Of course, any adaptation of one of King's works is exciting, but The Institute's story sounds similar to Stranger Things, making it even more compelling.

Barnes' character sounds a lot like David Harbour's Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, despite the fact that Tim's an ex-cop, especially since both of them take on the hero role in their respective stories.

In The Institute, Luke Ellis, a 12-year-old genius, is kidnapped and taken to The Institute (hence the book's name). There, he finds other gifted children who were also taken and capable of preternatural abilities. Anyone who has watched even just the first episode of Stranger Things would know that the novel's premise parallels the Netflix sci-fi horror drama's plot. The Institute is like the Hawkins Lab, led by Dr. Brenner, where scientists experimented on children, including Eleven, who all possessed powers. However, that isn't the only thing the two works share in common.

Ben Barnes' Tim Jamieson Is A Small Town Cop Like Stranger Things' Hopper

Jamieson & Hopper Share Many Things In Common

Ben Barnes is set to play Tim Jamieson, a disgruntled former police officer haunted by his past who moves to the small town in The Institute and becomes the night knocker. Barnes' character sounds a lot like David Harbour's Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, despite the fact that Tim's an ex-cop, especially since both of them take on the hero role in their respective stories. So, when Stranger Things ends, fans should give The Institute a try (whenever it premieres).