Stranger Issues cocreator Ross Duffer navigated a cut up from spouse Leigh Janiak whereas in manufacturing on season 5 of the hit Netflix collection.
Duffer and Janiak met in 2006 after they labored as an intern and producer’s assistant, respectively, at a Los Angeles manufacturing firm. The pair tied the knot almost a decade later and located particular person success as screenwriters.
Ross and his brother, Matt Duffer, grew to become family names as cocreators, showrunners, government producers and administrators for Stranger Issues. Janiak, in the meantime, was the inventive drive behind 2014’s Honeymoon and Netflix’s Concern Avenue Trilogy.
As manufacturing on season 5 kicked off in 2024, Janiak filed for divorce from Ross. Neither of them publicly addressed their marriage coming to an finish. Amid the change in his private life, Ross ready to conclude his hit Netflix collection.
“We really feel actually proud of how the present ended up. I feel within the finale, specifically, the final scene, which once more, we’ve had an thought of what that scene was going to be like for years, and once we sat down to interrupt season 5, it’s the very first thing we broke,” Ross informed The Hollywood Reporter. “The whole lot is de facto constructing to that second and ensuring that works. As a result of we knew that it doesn’t matter what we did, we might do eight hours of leisure that folks love, after which if you happen to slip within the final 5 minutes, it’s all anybody’s going to speak about!”
He continued: “So that you simply wish to be sure to get these 5 minutes proper, after which hopefully every thing falls into place. We’re so happy with that scene and the performances from our forged in that scene, so we’re feeling good about it. But it surely’s at all times nerve-racking to place it on the market for the viewers.”
Preserve scrolling to relive Ross and Janiak’s relationship:
2006
Ross and Janiak met in 2006 at a Los Angeles manufacturing firm the place they each labored. Whereas Janiak served as a producer’s assistant, Ross labored as an intern they usually subsequently began relationship.
2015
The duo exchanged vows at Korakia Pensione — a Palm Springs resort — in 2015. The ceremony was officiated by Jennifer Knode, who was Ross and Janiak’s good friend that grew to become a Common Life minister for the large day.
2016
Ross discovered success engaged on Stranger Issues, which impressed a Broadway play and yet-to-be-announced spinoff concepts. Janiak, in the meantime, launched a three-part movie collection Concern Avenue Trilogy in 2021 to crucial and fan acclaim.
2024
After almost a decade of marriage, Janiak filed authorized paperwork itemizing a date of separation as TBD and citing “irreconcilable variations” as the rationale for the cut up. Janiak requested spousal assist.
In his response, Ross requested to “terminate” the courtroom’s skill to award spousal assist to Janiak.
“Respondent is unaware of the character and extent of his separate property property and money owed and can amend his Response when identical are ascertained,” learn his response about property. “Respondent is unaware of the character and extent of group and quasi-community property property and money owed and can amend his Response when identical are ascertained.”
Ross requested that each events pay their very own authorized charges.


