After a decade-long journey, Noah Schnapp is preparing to say farewell to Will Byers, the character he grew up with on Stranger Things. As the hit Netflix show heads into its fifth and final season, the 21-year-old actor reflects on the profound connection he shares with Will, a role he began playing when he was just a child. Schnapp reveals that he started by essentially playing himself, but as both he and his character matured, their paths diverged, leading to a powerful and emotional conclusion for the beloved character.
From Shy Boy to a Strong Young Man
When Noah Schnapp first stepped onto the set of Stranger Things at 11 years old, he wasn’t performing. He was just being himself.
“I was just playing myself,” Schnapp admits. “I was that shy, timid little boy.”
Over the course of ten years, that dynamic changed. Not only did Will Byers grow up on screen, but Schnapp did in real life. He explains that as they aged, he and his character began to grow apart, shaped by different experiences. Will maintained a more closed-off and sensitive nature, while Schnapp describes himself as more outspoken and silly. This final season, however, showcases a new side of Will. Schnapp teases that the character’s many trials have forged him into a stronger, more self-assured young man. The challenge for the actor was balancing that new-found strength with the sensitive core that has always defined Will Byers.
An Emotional Final Chapter for the Hawkins Gang
The entire Stranger Things cast and crew approached the fifth season with the knowledge that it was the final chapter. Executive producer Shawn Levy confirmed that this brought “very, very honest and authentic” feelings to the set, as everyone was saying goodbye to characters they’ve lived with for years. For the young cast, who have been together since childhood, this ending is particularly significant.
The close-knit bond between the cast members, often described as a family, has been a key ingredient to the show’s success. Schnapp calls his co-stars “best friends I’ve had since I was so young,” and he is certain they “will be friends for the rest of our life.” He cherishes the moments they shared off-set, from celebrating birthdays and going to concerts to spending holidays together. This real-life chemistry provided a foundation of trust that allowed for vulnerable performances, a sentiment echoed by his co-star Millie Bobby Brown, who described the set as a “playground where you’re able to try out new things.”
Reading the Final Script in the Shower
The anticipation for the final season’s story was immense, even for the cast. Noah Schnapp recently shared the memorable story of how he first read the last script. He recalls people texting him warnings to “watch out” because he would love the season. Skeptical at first, he finally got the scripts the day before the table read.
“I remember I was reading it in the shower and I was like, ‘Oh, my God.’ Like, calling my mom, ‘Oh my God, you have to read it,’ and freaking out. I was skimming it as I was getting ready in the shower,” Schnapp said.
His initial anxiety about the story gave way to excitement as he saw how the writers were carefully concluding the characters’ journeys. He promises that the final season will tie up all the lingering questions and close the story knots, calling it the most emotional season yet and the one the team put the most “time and love into.”
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Will Byers’s Central Role and Lasting Impact
Will Byers has always been at the heart of Stranger Things—it was his disappearance in the first season that kicked off the entire story. As the show comes full circle, Will is set to play a central role in the final battle. The Duffer Brothers have stated that the season will finally reveal the truth about the Upside Down and why Vecna took Will in the first place, exploring his unique connection to the villain.
Beyond the supernatural elements, Will’s personal journey of self-acceptance has deeply resonated with audiences. Schnapp has spoken about how playing a character struggling with his identity helped him in his own personal life. He notes that fans often tell him how much they see themselves in Will, feeling empowered by his story to be proud of who they are.
“It’s a show at its core about friendship and connection and belonging and embracing your differences, and it just makes you feel a part of something,” Schnapp explains. “It makes you feel empowered to be proud to be different and proud to be who you are.”
Closing a Decade-Long Chapter
As Stranger Things releases its final episodes, Noah Schnapp is also closing another major chapter in his life: he is set to graduate from the University of Pennsylvania in a few months. He prioritized his education, studying film while working on the show, and will now step into a new world.
“I’m graduating in a few months at the same time as the finale is coming out,” he says. “All these chapters of my childhood are closing, and now I’m stepping into a brand new world of anything can happen. It’s equally terrifying and exciting.”
Looking forward, Schnapp is eager to take on new challenges as an actor, seeking roles completely different from Will Byers, perhaps in comedies or as a villain. But he will always carry a part of Will with him. He is most proud of this final season and the opportunity to have grown up alongside a character who touched so many lives, ready to say one last goodbye to the boy from Hawkins.
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