Matt and Ross Duffer have appointed Josh Stern as president of Upside Down Pictures, their production company operating under an exclusive Paramount deal. The appointment strengthens the company’s leadership as the creators of Stranger Things expand into developing film, television and direct-to-consumer projects, marking a significant step in Paramount’s wider partnership with the pair.

The Duffers’ four-year overall agreement with Paramount began in April and will see Upside Down Pictures pursue new genre-led stories across several formats. Stern joins from Peter Chernin’s North Road, where he was executive vice-president of television, and previously held senior development roles at wiip and Darren Aronofsky’s Protozoa; his credits include Dickinson, The Whale, Jackie and The Good Nurse.