Noah Schnapp recently shared insights during the PaleyLive’s Stranger Things panel about his growing involvement and contributions to the series, particularly in the fifth and final season of the Netflix phenomenon. The 21-year-old actor, who portrays Will Byers, reflected on his journey since the show’s inception, admitting that he initially felt his opinions were not significant enough to influence creative decisions.
At the event held on December 18 at the Paley Museum in New York City, Schnapp discussed his character’s intriguing development, specifically the revelation that Will can channel Vecna’s powers. He expressed excitement about exploring these new abilities, noting, “The powers were not something I ever experienced or had to work with before, and I was just really excited to play with it.” He appreciated the creative freedom that came with this evolution, stating, “It’s just fun because there’s no rules with that kind of stuff.”
Schnapp described how, for the first time, he felt empowered to share his perspective with the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers. “I really learned how to form my own opinion and perspective, and come to [creators Matt and Ross Duffer] and say, ‘Well, I think actually this would work and this makes sense for Will,’” he recalled. This growth has helped him realize the value of his voice in the storytelling process.
His experience reflects a common journey for young actors evolving in their careers. Schnapp noted that when he was younger, he didn’t believe he had the authority to influence decisions, highlighting the importance of recognizing one’s contributions in collaborative environments.
During the panel, other cast members, including Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, and Caleb McLaughlin, joined Schnapp in discussing the series. The actor also revealed that he learned about major plot twists simultaneously with the rest of his co-stars, further illustrating the show’s effort to maintain suspense and engagement.
In an earlier interview, Schnapp recounted his dramatic reaction upon reading the final script. He described the buildup to the table read, where he was both excited and overwhelmed with how the story unfolded. “I remember I had people texting me before the scripts came out like, ‘Noah, watch out. You’re going to like this season,’ and I was like, ‘Oh, whatever, whatever.’ Then I read it in the shower and was like, ‘Oh, my God,’” he said.
As audiences eagerly await the second volume of Stranger Things season 5, set to drop on December 25, with the series finale following on December 31, Schnapp’s insights and character development add to the anticipation surrounding the conclusion of this beloved series.