Spoilers for the final season of Stranger Things ahead.
The creators of the show, Matt and Ross Duffer, handled Will Byers’ coming out story perfectly. And considering the show, that’s not entirely surprising!
Noah Schnapp, best known for playing Will Byers on the Netflix hit Stranger Things since 2016, was ready to share his perspective, as he publicly came out as gay in January 2023.
He recently shared with Variety that he was initially concerned about how a specific scene in season five, episode seven would turn out, but after discussing it with the Duffer brothers and director Shawn Levy, he realized it was flawless. He said he didn’t have any suggestions for improvement.
In the first season of the show, Will’s mother, Joyce (Winona Ryder), revealed that his father used to insult him by calling him ‘queer.’ Later, in season three, Mike (Finn Wolfhard) questioned why Will wasn’t interested in girls.
It wasn’t until the show’s current, final season that Noah Schnapp performed the emotional scene where Will reveals, “I don’t like girls.”
As everyone anticipated the reveal, Schnapp said, “I knew something was going to happen.” After finishing the first six episodes of the season, he repeatedly messaged the creators, asking, “Is it finished? Have you written it? Will it be in episodes seven or eight? How did you plan it?”
Schnapp was incredibly emotional when he read the script. He said, “It was exactly what I’d hoped for.”
And the 21-year-old was more than ready to do it justice.
The actor described spending a full 12 hours practicing just one long speech. But they weren’t finished after that day – they came back a week later to film parts of the scene again, another 12-hour stretch. They felt exhausted and wondered how many more takes they could possibly do.
Even though filming took a long time, Noah Schnapp enjoyed the opportunity to experiment with his performance. He said it felt freeing because he wasn’t limited to one particular approach.
To prep, he turned to his most loquacious costar.
Noah Schnapp shared a line-learning tip he got from his “Stranger Things” co-star, Maya Hawke, who first appeared as Robin Buckley in season three. Schnapp asked her how she manages to memorize so many lines without seeming to think about them during scenes. Hawke explained that it’s not about how well you know the lines, but how long you’ve known them – she suggested preparing for roles months in advance.
She advised me to simply repeat the lines over and over, morning and night for months, before filming. But she stressed not to practice how to say them, or try to feel any particular emotion – just to say the words aloud repeatedly to memorize them.
He explained that after memorizing the script well before filming, he could really connect with his character’s emotions. He enjoyed the full 12 hours on set, using the time to experiment and truly inhabit the role.
Schnapp shared that his fellow cast members were incredibly kind and supportive. He’ll always remember their patience and generosity, especially since they spent a whole night listening to him talk at length.
He mentioned that even when they weren’t actively filming, the cast and crew didn’t leave set. Instead of relaxing in Video Village or taking a break, everyone stayed in their designated spots all day, which he found remarkable.
Noah Schnapp pointed out something important about Will Byers: he never actually says he’s gay. It’s a subtle detail that adds depth to the character.
In a 2023 TikTok video where he discussed his sexuality, Schnapp explained, “I didn’t actually say the word ‘gay.'” He admitted it was a difficult and frightening topic to talk about.
Considering the show takes place in 1980s Indiana, Noah Schnapp explained there was likely a lot more at stake for his character. He noted that when Will Byers first starts to understand his feelings and share them with his friends, he’s understandably hesitant to label them, but that’s perfectly okay. Schnapp believes Will simply felt more comfortable expressing himself in that way at the time.
With the final episode of the series arriving on New Year’s Eve, we’re revisiting the show’s origins. And we have to say, the secrets revealed in Stranger Things are absolutely incredible!
Before creating Stranger Things, brothers Matt and Ross Duffer worked on M. Night Shyamalan’s TV series Wayward Pines. Their initial idea for the show was originally called Montauk.
Ugh, it was SO tough getting everyone on board with ‘Stranger Things’! Seriously, when Matt and Ross first suggested it, nobody got it. He actually told The Daily Beast back in 2016 how hard it was to convince people – once you’re fixated on a title, it’s a battle to get others to see your vision, you know? They really had to fight for it, and honestly, I’m SO glad they did. It’s the perfect title!
The creators of the show originally planned to film on Long Island, but it turned out to be too difficult to do so.
Matt told The Hollywood Reporter they chose Montauk as a filming location because of its beautiful seaside environment and its connection to the movie Jaws, which they all love. However, they quickly realized shooting on Long Island during the winter would have been too difficult and costly.
Atlanta ultimately became the home base for production.
Before Netflix decided to air the show, nearly 20 other networks rejected it, according to Vulture. Executives at those networks worried viewers wouldn’t connect with a series focused on four child actors.
4. To play Eleven, then 12-year-old Millie Bobby Brown had to say goodbye to her hair.
In 2018, at PaleyFest, the actress described shaving her head as the most liberating experience of her life. She explained that letting go of her hair felt like revealing her true self, as she no longer had anything to hide behind. Looking in the mirror, she felt a strong sense of purpose – to inspire others to see that beauty isn’t about having hair.
She found inspiration for her work in Charlize Theron’s performance in Mad Max: Fury Road, and also looked to old yearbook pictures of her fellow actor, Winona Ryder.
She mentioned that Winona Ryder’s short, pixie haircut was iconic, and it inspired her to try the style herself.
The British actress shared that she used a surprising resource to nail her American accent: Miley Cyrus’s show, Hannah Montana. She told Jimmy Fallon on The Tonight Show that she thought it was “so good,” and that the show – everything about it, in fact – helped her perfect the accent.
The Duffer brothers chose the four young actors who would play the main kids by having them audition with scenes from the movie Stand By Me.
The brothers had a specific vision for the character of Mike. However, their idea changed after Finn Wolfhard’s audition.
I’ve always loved how the creators described Mike’s initial conception. Matt explained to The Daily Beast back in 2016 that Mike started out as a bit of a daydreamer, a lot like Mikey from The Goonies. But then they met Finn Wolfhard, and his naturally energetic, slightly anxious vibe was perfect. They basically rewrote the character to fit him and his personality, and honestly, it was a brilliant move. It just wouldn’t be the same without Finn’s energy!
Gaten Matarazzo, who played Dustin, also had a big impact on the development of his character. According to Matt, they initially envisioned Dustin as a typical nerd, but after meeting Gaten, they rewrote parts of the show to better suit his talents and personality.
After the show featured Eleven’s love for Eggo waffles, Kellogg’s experienced a noticeable jump in sales. They reported a 14 percent increase in waffle consumption in late 2017, coinciding with the release of season two. October of that year also saw a record number of social media mentions for the product.
In early 2018, David Harbour became an internet sensation when he agreed to take a fan’s senior portraits with her. It all started when she tweeted asking him to do so, offering a retweet goal. Harbour responded that he’d do it for 25,000 retweets, with the condition he could wear the school sweatshirt and hold a trombone. True to his promise, he followed through!
He jokingly predicted on Instagram that, 24 years later, he’d be known for crashing someone else’s high school senior photos.
Later that year, Harbour playfully offered to marry a fan if she could get 125,000 retweets and a piece of her wedding cake. He became officially ordained and ended up performing the ceremony dressed as his character, Chief Hopper.
As a huge fan, I always loved the theories about Eleven possibly being Hopper’s biological daughter! While that didn’t turn out to be true, their father-daughter bond was so beautifully developed. And honestly, when I noticed Eleven wearing that little blue braided bracelet at her dance – the one made from the ribbon of Hopper’s late daughter – I totally lost it! It was such a subtle, sweet detail that really showed how much he cared for her and how much she meant to him. It was a perfect little nod to his past and a beautiful symbol of their connection.
Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, shared that her first-ever kiss was with Finn Wolfhard (Mike) during season one of the show. She described the experience as ‘strange,’ adding that having a large crew watching made it feel overwhelming – ‘like, ‘Whoa!”
As a lifestyle expert, I’m always fascinated by behind-the-scenes moments! I recently heard a fun story about a popular on-screen kiss. Apparently, when these two actors had to recreate the magic the following season, she shared what her co-star playfully whispered to her right before their lips met – it was a really sweet and charming detail!
She recounted an awkward first kiss, explaining that he verbally warned her before leaning in. ‘He basically said, ‘I’m coming in for a kiss,’ but he said it in a really strange way—almost like a ventriloquist!’ she shared on The Tonight Show in 2017.
As a lifestyle observer, I’ve always been fascinated by on-set romances! It’s no secret that Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton, who beautifully portray Nancy and Jonathan on screen, actually started dating back in 2016. What I admire is that they’ve chosen to keep things pretty low-key and private, which is refreshing to see.
You know, I’m a pretty private person. When it comes to my family and close friends, I really cherish keeping those relationships personal. But I have to say, working with people you’re close to – especially those you see outside of work – can be incredibly rewarding and fun! It definitely adds a unique dynamic.
Surprisingly, Joe Keery’s character, Steve Harrington, wasn’t originally meant to survive the first season of the show.
According to Ross, they quickly became fans of actor Joe Keery during the first season. This is why they created a storyline where his character, Steve, teams up with Jonathan and Nancy to help resolve the central conflict. Originally, Steve was intended to be a stereotypical, unpleasant athlete, but Keery brought so much more to the role.
18. Also slated to perish was Eleven. Yes, really.
According to Ross Duffer, writing in the book Stranger Things: Worlds Turned Upside Down, the original plan was for Eleven to sacrifice herself to save everyone. However, when they started considering more than one season, they decided against a definite ending for her. They realized the show wouldn’t succeed without Eleven, and Millie Bobby Brown was proving to be a particularly talented performer. So, if Stranger Things continued, Eleven needed to survive.
The seventh episode of the second season, called “The Lost Sister,” nearly didn’t make it onto screens. The Duffer brothers, in an interview with Vulture, explained they worried the episode—which focuses on Eleven’s search for another child with similar experiences—would disrupt the story’s flow.
Matt explained that as they started writing the episode, they questioned whether it was actually necessary. They even considered cutting it entirely, but the planned ending involving Eleven didn’t work without it. Ultimately, they decided the episode was essential to the story.
20. Eleven’s sibling was written to be a boy, with the episode originally titled “The Lost Brother.”
Once the audition was open to all young actresses, Linnea Berthelsen won the role. The episode then showed Eleven meeting her “sister,” Kali. According to Matt, Linnea and Millie (who plays Eleven) had a strong connection, and Millie specifically requested to work with Linnea.
Nicola Coughlan, the actress known for her role in Bridgerton, originally tried out for the part of Robin. However, she later landed the role of Penelope Featherington. Maya Hawke ended up getting the part of Robin, and Nicola said Hawke was much more suited for it than she would have been.
She explained that actors can learn a lot by watching performances they weren’t chosen for. It helps them realize that not getting a role isn’t a personal rejection – everyone is simply best suited for different parts.
Before becoming famous for her role as Sarah on the Netflix series Outer Banks, Madelyn Cline played the character Tina, a popular but unkind student, in the second season of Stranger Things.
To land the role of Billy, the rebellious older stepbrother of Max (played by Sadie Sink), Australian actor Dacre Montgomery created a memorable audition tape. He told GQ he aimed to impress the Duffer brothers with something bold and a little edgy.
Dacre took a big gamble by filming himself dancing to 80s hits like “Come on Eileen” and “Hungry Like the Wolf” while wearing very little clothing – just a G-string. He was worried about sending the video, thinking it could either end his career or land him an opportunity. Luckily, the risk paid off.
As the show entered its third season, Deadline reported significant pay raises for the cast. The younger actors saw their per-episode salary jump from around $30,000 to over $200,000, and potentially as high as $250,000. Winona Ryder and David Harbour were earning approximately $300,000 to $350,000 per episode, while Natalia Dyer and Charlie Heaton were making between $100,000 and $150,000.
Priah Ferguson was originally scheduled for just one episode in season two as Erica, Lucas’s feisty younger sister. However, the Duffer brothers were so impressed with her performance that they kept adding her to scenes. As a result, she became a regular cast member in the next season.
Because the young actors were still growing during filming, the costume designers had a hard time making sure their clothes fit consistently from scene to scene.
It was quite a challenge keeping up with the kids’ growth spurts,” explained costume designer Kim Wilcox to TopMob News. “One child, in particular, was growing so fast – about half a shoe size every three weeks! To solve this, we started buying five pairs of the same shoe from brands that offered a wide range of sizes. That way, we always had a pair that would fit when a child’s feet grew.
The Duffer brothers, while inspired by classic films like The Goonies, E.T., and Stand By Me, made sure their references weren’t too obvious.
When we initially presented the project to Netflix, we created a lengthy, two-and-a-half-minute trailer. It combined clips and ideas from around 20 to 30 movies, aiming to capture the essence of Stranger Things, explained Matt in an interview with The Daily Beast. These films were hugely influential on us growing up and deeply shaped our creative vision. However, once we started writing individual episodes, we rarely talked about those movies directly. Our focus shifted to simply telling the story and letting the characters drive the plot. Otherwise, it would have become a confusing and disjointed narrative.
The team aimed for a classic look by minimizing special effects, but they soon realized it was much harder than they expected.
Originally, we wanted to use only practical effects, like they did in movies like The Thing and Alien. But we quickly learned how incredibly difficult that is. It requires a lot of time and planning. We were writing scripts very quickly, but didn’t have the months needed to prepare those kinds of effects. When we got to set, a lot of the ideas that seemed good in theory just weren’t feasible because we simply didn’t have enough time to execute them the old-fashioned way, Ross explained.
The creators, the Duffer brothers, originally planned for ‘Stranger Things’ to last five seasons. According to Netflix executive Matthew Thunell, much of what they imagined back in 2015 is now happening as the series nears its conclusion. Each episode of the fourth season reportedly cost around $30 million to produce, as noted by Variety magazine.
Although the creators of Stranger Things, the Duffer brothers, know how the show will eventually end, they’re not finished exploring the story and the world of the Upside Down.
In an interview with Variety, the creators revealed they have a spin-off idea they’re really enthusiastic about, but it’s still in the early stages – they haven’t even shared the concept yet. They did mention that Finn Wolfhard correctly guessed what the series would be about, calling it ‘very, very different.’ However, they emphasized that he’s the only one who knows the details so far.
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2025-12-26 20:19