Warning - this article contains major spoilers for the Stranger Things finale

Contrary to popular fan speculation, Stranger Things creators Ross and Matt Duffer have debunked a theory about the Netflix show's forthcoming spin-off.

The acclaimed 1980s-set supernatural drama wrapped up with a thrilling finale on Thursday (1st January), marking the end of the Hawkins crew's fight against Vecna (portrayed by Jamie Campbell Bower) and the Upside Down.

In the epilogue, following a jaw-dropping confrontation with the Mind Flayer in Dimension X and a poignant goodbye to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown), we catch a glimpse of where several beloved characters find themselves 18 months on.

After five series, Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder) finally share a romantic dinner at Enzo's, culminating in Hopper's proposal, reports the Mirror.

Joyce, naturally, accepts, leading to a heart-melting dance accompanied by enchanting backing vocals that set viewers' hearts racing worldwide.

During their date, Hopper also proposes relocating from Hawkins after a friend in New York hinted at a chief of police role becoming available in Montauk.

This not only offers the chance for a fresh start for the fan-favourite couple of Stranger Things, but it also led fans to speculate that the Long Island refuge could be an ideal backdrop for the confirmed spin-off series.

One X user posted: "WAIT HOPPER WANTS TO GO TO MONTAUK?!!! #montauk that is where the whole story of Papa's Dad started. Is that the spinoff town?!!!"

Another enthusiast speculated: "Oh you caught that huh? Montauk is the Easter egg for the next spinoff."

Nevertheless, in a post-finale discussion with Deadline, the Duffer Brothers have disappointingly confirmed this isn't accurate.

The Montauk reference is actually a playful nod to Stranger Things' beginnings, originally pitched as a supernatural series titled Montauk in 2015 before relocating to the fictional Hawkins, Indiana.

Ross Duffer acknowledged there is indeed a clue regarding the spin-off, but clarified: "I don't know if I want to, but I will say, though, it's not Hopper mentioning Montauk.

"There's no Montauk spinoff. That was more of a wink to the fans, deep-cut fans that know that the show started as Montauk."

Maintaining secrecy around their intentions, the co-creator added: "It's obviously not Holly (Nell Fisher) and the kids or anything like that. It's something much smaller than that.

"We've said this before, the spinoff idea we have, it is early days, but it is an entirely new mythology.

"So, it is connected, and it is going to answer some questions that people have, and there's some lingering questions that weren't answered in the finale that will be answered in the spinoff. But at the end of the day, it's got its own story and its own mythology."

In a previous chat with Variety, Ross also verified there will be some "connective tissue" between the programmes, but insisted the spin-off won't resemble Star Wars with characters and settings overlapping.

Nevertheless, the Duffers have revealed there's a clue to the upcoming series tucked away somewhere in the finale, so devotees had better begin their next viewing session if they fancy uncovering some revelations.

Stranger Things is available to stream on Netflix.

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