Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Casts Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxter Ahead of April 2026 Premiere

Odessa A’zion joins the animated Hawkins saga as newcomer Nikki Baxter in Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.

Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 Casts Odessa A’zion as Nikki Baxter, Unveils Character Posters

We’re heading back to Hawkins — this time in animated form.

Netflix has revealed new character posters for Stranger Things: Tales From ’85 and confirmed that Odessa A’zion will voice a new character named Nikki Baxter. The animated series premieres April 23, 2026.

Showrunner Eric Robles describes Nikki as the audience’s entry point into this next chapter of the Stranger Things universe. Speaking to TUDUM, Robles explained that Nikki comes into Hawkins completely new to the chaos that has defined the town. She has her own personal struggles, and when the familiar group of kids intersects with her world, she’s forced to confront something far bigger than herself. Once she sees what’s unfolding, walking away is no longer an option.

Set in the winter of 1985, the series returns to a snow-covered Hawkins where life appears to have settled back into normalcy. Eleven, Mike, Will, Dustin, Lucas and Max are back to D&D sessions, snowball fights and quiet afternoons. The Upside Down feels distant.

But Hawkins never stays quiet for long.

Something awakens beneath the ice. Whether it stems from the Upside Down, Hawkins Lab, or an entirely new source remains the central mystery. The animated format opens the door for a more stylized expansion of the mythology while keeping the emotional core intact.

The voice cast includes Brooklyn Davey Norstedt as Eleven, Jolie Hoang-Rappaport as Max, Luca Diaz as Mike, Elisha “EJ” Williams as Lucas, Braxton Quinney as Dustin, Ben Plessala as Will, Brett Gipson as Hopper and Jeremy Jordan as Steve. Additional voice talent includes Odessa A’zion, Janeane Garofalo and Lou Diamond Phillips.

Robles serves as showrunner and executive producer. Matt and Ross Duffer executive produce alongside Hilary Leavitt via Upside Down Pictures, Shawn Levy via 21 Laps, and Dan Cohen. The series is produced by Flying Bark.

The introduction of Nikki Baxter signals that this isn’t just a nostalgic retread. By giving viewers a fresh perspective inside a familiar world, the series has the opportunity to reframe Hawkins through new eyes while deepening the mythology longtime fans already know.

April 23, 2026.

The snow may be falling, but Hawkins is far from frozen.