'Stranger Things' Co-Creator Ross Duffer's Ex Demands Spousal Support In Divorce

Ross Duffer's estranged wife, Leigh Janiak, wants monetary compensation from him after nine years of marriage. 

According to court documents obtained by The Blast, Janiak requests a dissolution of marriage and spousal support from the "Stranger Things" co-creator.

Legal documents reveal that Janiak cited "irreconcilable differences" as the grounds for her separation from Duffer and listed the date of separation as "To be determined." 

Regarding their property and debts, Janiak claims she has not had enough time to identify and list "all such property and will amend her Petition when the nature and full extent of her separate property assets and debts are ascertained."

She also asserts the same point regarding who gets what from the shared assets and debts, including those considered quasi-community. 

As for her spousal support request, the 44-year-old asks the court to make "Spousal or domestic partner support payable to" to her, "Terminate (end) the court's ability to award support to" her husband, and "Reserve for future determination the issue of support payable to" her.

It makes sense that Janiak wants a piece of Duffer's money, as his net worth reportedly stands at $16 million. The 40-year-old got his fortune from working as a writer, director, and producer alongside his brother Matt for roughly 19 years. 

His career as a director has earned him credit in various Hollywood projects, including "Hidden" and "Road to Moloch." Meanwhile, news of Janiak filing for divorce comes shortly after the commencement of production for the fifth and final season of "Stranger Things."

The story of Duffer and Janiak started in 2006 at a Los Angeles production company where they both worked. While Janiak served as a producer's assistant, her husband worked as an intern then.

The couple later exchanged vows at Korakia Pensione, a Palm Springs, California resort, in 2015. The ceremony was officiated by Jennifer Knode, a friend of the couple who became a Universal Life minister for the occasion.

Both Duffer and Janiak are highly regarded for their writing talents, with the latter's notable works including the 2014 film "Honeymoon" and Netflix's "Fear Street Trilogy." 

On the other hand, Duffer plays a significant role as the co-creator, showrunner, executive producer, and director of "Stranger Things," alongside Matt. As mentioned above, the fifth and final season of the sci-fi series resumed production in Atlanta last month. 

Originally planned to start filming in May 2023, production was delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. These strikes concluded in September 2023 and November 2023, respectively, allowing filming to begin finally. 

Looking ahead, Duffer and his brother established Upside Down Pictures, a new production company, in July 2022. Under an overall deal with Netflix, they will develop film and television projects. 

One of their recent endeavors includes the stage play "Stranger Things: The First Shadow," which premiered in December 2023. Additionally, they are working on a "Stranger Things" spinoff, although specific details about the series are being kept secret for now.

On the other hand, Janiak will most likely be dedicating her attention to the new batch of "Fear Street" movies, recently approved by Netflix. These films are slated to adapt R.L. Stine's 1992 novel, "The Prom Queen."

Although few details about the new film have been disclosed, including Janiak's potential involvement in scriptwriting, the book's official description was posted on Stine's website in January. The logline reads:

"A spring night…soft moonlight…five beautiful Prom Queen candidates…dancing couples at the Shadyside High prom — these should be the ingredients for romance. But stir in one brutal murder — then another, and another — and the recipe quickly turns to horror. Lizzie McVay realizes that someone is murdering the five Prom Queen candidates one by one — and that she may be next on the list! Can she stop the murderer before the dance is over — for good?"