Noah Schnapp says it’s “pretty clear’ that his Stranger Things character, Will Byers, is gay.
Following the premiere of Stranger Things season four, fans were quick to speculate whether Will Byers’s feelings for Mike Wheeler (played by Finn Wolfhard) were more than just friendly.
In a recent interview with Variety, Noah Schnapp confirms that he agrees with these fan thoughts.
He told the publication, “For season four, it was just me playing this character who loves his best friend but struggles with knowing if he’ll be accepted or not,”
“Obviously, [Will’s sexuality] was hinted at in season one. It was always kind of there, but you never really knew. Is it just him growing up slower than his friends?” he continues.
“Now that he’s gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing. Now it’s 100 per cent clear that he is gay and he does love Mike,”
Surfer Boy Pizza
The one scene that had fans convinced of the Stranger Things characters’ sexuality, was during an exchange between Will Byers and Mike Wheeler in season four.
The pair are riding in In the back of Argyle’s (Eduardo Franco) Sufer Boy pizza truck. In the vehicle, Mike Wheeler reveals that he thinks Eleven no longer loves him.
To console his friend, Will Byers says, “When you’re different, sometimes you feel like a mistake. But you make her [Eleven] feel like she’s not a mistake at all. Like she’s better for being different and that gives her the courage to fight on.”
Regarding the scene, Noah Schnapp says, “I remember when I was doing the scene, I was bawling,”
“This scene was really important for him [Will Byers], because it really solidified that truth, that he loves his best friend and he doesn’t know how to tell him,” he continues.
Elsewhere in the interview, Noah Schnapp reveals playing the Stranger Things star has been a difficult albeit fun journey.
“It has been a challenge, but I think it’s just been fun to be able to step into his shoes. Because I really have to take into account this isn’t just a single layer thing of he’s struggling with coming out. It’s this multifaceted trauma that goes years back.”
Noah Schnapp stars as Will Byers in season four of Stranger Things. You can stream the show via Netflix now.
To get advice and support on any of the issues raised in this article, please contact the LGBT Foundation for confidential support, advice and information. You can email them at info@lgbt.foundation or reach the foundation by phone by ringing 03453303030.
Feature image credit: Netflix