Noah Schnapp on Will Byers' coming out scene in Netflix's 'Stranger Things 5': 'It’s very real, very grounded'

As _Stranger Things_ heads into its final chapter, Noah Schnapp has opened up about Will Byers’ long-awaited coming-out moment, calling it one of the most meaningful arcs of the series. In a recent interview, the actor said the finale handles Will’s identity with sensitivity, emotional truth, and restraint, something he believes has been building since the show’s early seasons.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Schnapp reflected on Will’s journey and said the character’s sexuality was “always part of the story,” even when it remained unspoken. “It’s been there from season one,” he said, adding that the final season allows Will to finally articulate feelings he has struggled to name for years.

According to Schnapp, the coming-out scene is not designed as a dramatic spectacle. “It’s not some big speech or over-the-top moment,” he explained. “It’s very real, very grounded, exactly how something like that would happen in real life.” The actor stressed that the show’s creators were careful not to sensationalise the moment, instead letting it emerge naturally from Will’s emotional arc.

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In a separate interaction with Parade, Schnapp admitted that playing Will through this phase felt personal and validating. “So many people see themselves in Will,” he said, noting that the character’s quiet isolation and emotional restraint resonated deeply with LGBTQ+ viewers. “It means everything that people feel represented and understood through him.”

The actor also addressed fan expectations around Will’s feelings for Mike Wheeler, acknowledging that the show has never shied away from portraying unrequited love with honesty. Schnapp noted that the finale doesn’t offer easy answers but focuses on emotional closure. “It’s about acceptance - of himself, of his feelings, and of where he stands with the people he loves,” he said.

Creators Matt and Ross Duffer, Schnapp revealed, were intent on ensuring that Will’s moment felt earned rather than performative. The coming-out scene, he said, reflects the show’s larger themes of growing up, identity, and learning to voice one’s truth, even when it’s painful.

With Stranger Things set to conclude its run, Schnapp believes Will Byers’ arc will be remembered as one of the series’ most quietly powerful stories. “It’s a beautiful ending for him,” he said. “And I think a lot of people are going to feel seen.”