Joe Keery reveals Stranger Things had nothing to do with choice to star in his new sci-fi movie

Hardly any time has passed since Stranger Things wrapped up its final season, but one of the Netflix hit's biggest stars is already back in another project that straddles the sci-fi and horror genres.

Joe Keery has a lead role alongside Barbarian's Georgina Campbell in new film Cold Storage, which is adapted by prolific screenwriter David Koepp from his own novel of the same name, and arrives in UK cinemas this weekend.

Given the two projects occupy the same genre, you might wonder if that connection was what convinced Keery to sign up. But according to the star – who actually filmed Cold Storage before the final run of Stranger Things – it didn't really factor into his thinking at all.

"To be honest with you, the main appeal was David [Koepp], initially," he explained during an exclusive interview with RadioTimes, referencing the screenwriter behind everything from Jurassic Park, Spider-Man and Mission: Impossible to Carlito's Way, Panic Room and Black Bag.

"I'm a fan of his" he continued. "I feel like, in a way, his work has inspired – whether people know it or not, so many people. Just because I feel like his writing and influence has like permeated the last 30 years of cinema history.

"[He's] so good at character, so I was just really interested in the character. And thought it was, like, a really fun project. I guess that was the appeal, not necessarily based off of anything Stranger Things."

In the film, Keery plays Travis, an employee at a self-storage company whose first shift with new co-worker Naomi (Campbell) takes an unexpected turn when they find themselves fighting off a parasitic fungus that had been secretly stored underneath their facility by the government.

The cast also includes roles for Liam Neeson and Lesley Manville as the scientists who had first brought the fungus back from space – and who are called upon to step in and save the day.

And Neeson explained that – just like Keery – Koepp's screenplay had been the main attraction for him.

"I've been a fan of David's for many years as a screenwriter," he said. "I didn't know he was a novelist, but I thoroughly enjoyed Cold Storage, the book. He beautifully transferred that to a screenplay. It was a real page turner [with a] lovely comedic strain going through it, an edge of your seat thriller.

"And then I could imagine the CGI that would have to go into it," he added. "I thought they did a wonderful job. I just saw it two nights ago, the finished film and thought was really, really good in every department. And the kids were – I call them kids – Joe and Georgina, were fantastic."

Cold Storage is released in UK cinemas on Friday 20 February 2026.

Check out more of our Film coverage or visit our TV Guide and Streaming Guide to find out what's on. For more TV recommendations and reviews, listen to The Radio Times Podcast.