Noah Schnapp recently came out as gay, which his Stranger Things counterpart Will Byers also faced in the last season. The two worlds reportedly took a toll on the actor, and he tells Variety in a new profile piece that the show helped him overcome his coming out fears.
The actor held nothing back in the article, revealing his coming out story and how the series played a massive part. He notes that he knew when the time was up, saying, “I just wanted to put it away and be confident in who I am and know that I don’t have to care what people think anymore.”
One of the most exciting details came from a season five update. Schnapp discloses his sexuality could play a factor in how Will is handled: “I think the way I act in Season 5, honestly, might be a little different,” says Schnapp. “I will be fully aware of who I am. Knowing all of that about myself and being able to invest that in my character, I’m honestly just excited.”
The Duffer Brothers told Schnapp he would be rewarded with a center-stage arc in the Stranger Things fifth season.
They revealed: “Will really takes center stage again in 5. This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together. Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality – it’s Will coming into his own as a young man.”
While the fifth and final season will see some delays, we did hear some positive news before the Hollywood strikes. Director Dan Trachtenberg was attached as a director while 80s icon Linda Hamilton will join the series.
