Noah Schnapp recently opened up about the dramatic reveal concerning his character Will Byers at the end of “Stranger Things” Season 5, Volume 1, sharing his personal sentiments about the pivotal moment and how it was crafted. As anticipation built up before filming for the final season, Schnapp recalls being nudged by the crew, particularly executive producer Shawn Levy, about exciting developments in store for his character.
It wasn’t until the first table read that Schnapp understood the magnitude of what lay ahead after skimming through the scripts that included a shocking cliffhanger. At the end of episode 4, titled “Sorcerer,” Will demonstrates unexpected powers during a confrontation with Vecna, played by Jamie Campbell Bower. In a tense moment, Will, previously dismissed as weak, defies the odds and telekinetically protects his friends from being attacked, culminating with a haunting visual of blood streaming from his nose.
Schnapp described his reaction to the scene as a “whiplash of a reveal” and expressed excitement over this significant character development that has been long in the making. Series creators Matt and Ross Duffer confirmed that this moment had been planned since Season 2, with Ross noting that the timing finally felt right for this major shift as the series approached its conclusion. “If we’re gonna do it, this is our last chance to do it,” he explained, highlighting the narrative’s connection back to Will’s abduction, which initiated the series.
The Duffer brothers clarified that Will’s newfound powers do not make him a clone of Eleven, but instead, they emerge from his connection to Vecna and the Mind Flayer, emphasizing a unique manifestation of abilities. Schnapp aimed to differentiate Will’s portrayal of these powers, drawing inspiration from the movements of a silverback gorilla to provide a grounded, distinct physicality in his performance.
Additionally, Schnapp has a deep personal connection to Will’s coming-out storyline that unfolds alongside the character’s journey of self-acceptance and empowerment. At 21 years old, he felt a heavier weight of responsibility as a mentor to younger actors portraying Will in flashbacks while integrating his own recent experiences of coming out publicly as gay. Schnapp noted that this narrative isn’t simply a coming-out story; it reflects the complexity of emotions where personal internal struggles are woven into a broader superhero narrative.
As the production process unfolded, Schnapp faced the nerves typical of such a defining moment in the series, but he received reassuring support from cast and crew alike. After elaborate preparations and rehearsals for the episode, the climactic scene was captured successfully in just one take, provoking genuine laughter and relief between Schnapp and the Duffer brothers after reviewing the footage.
As “Stranger Things” gears up for Volume 2, set to debut on Christmas Day with episodes 5-7, the implications of Will’s reveal position him as a crucial piece in the ongoing battle against Vecna, solidifying his central role in the finale of the series. The journey ahead promises to delve deeper into these evolving dynamics as the characters confront their pasts and forge their futures.