Summary
Stranger Thingsis set to return for its fifth and final season. One of the stars said they had a better experience filming the show’s final run.
Stranger Thingsis a science fiction-horror series that debuted in July 2016. It is set in the 1980s in the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, and combines supernatural horror, government conspiracies, and nostalgic references to ’80s pop culture. The show is created by the Duffer brothers and stars Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair), Noah Schnapp (Will Byers), Sadie Sink (Max Mayfield) and David Harbour (Jim Hopper) to name a few. One of them shared how their filming experience for Season 5 improved after coming out as gay.
Schnapp came out as gayin January 2023 in a video uploaded on his TikTok account. Based on the clip, he finally came out as gay to his family and friends after 18 years and they were not surprised. Instead, their response based on the audio he lip-synched was, “We know.” Schnapp shared how that decision improved his filming experience onStranger ThingsSeason 5when he spoke with Variety atStranger Things: The First Shadowopening on Tuesday. According to him, it was liberating because he was finally being true to himself. Additionally, everyone on set was supportive of him because he enjoyed working for Season 5 and even said it was “a million times better.” Schnapp told Variety about his filming experience for the final season:
It’s been amazing, it’s such a better experience being able to walk onto that set and know that I’m finally living truthfully. It made this season a million times better to not be hiding.
It turns out that Schnapp is just like his character in the show — Will Byers. In a 2022 interview, Schnapp said that Will was gay. His statement raised some eyebrows, with some questioning his own sexuality, which he addressed months later. SomeStranger Thingsfans speculated thatSchnapp’s Will had a crush on Wolfhard’s Mike. Many suspected their feelings for each other because they were the closest in the group. When asked about the duo’s potential romantic relationship in another interview, Schnapp did not directly confirm it but seemingly teased that there were chances for the two.“I feel like you could tell right from the beginning that Mike and Will were a pair. Then there wasLucasand Dustin, who were a pair,” he said.
There is no doubt that Schnapp’s coming out did not affect how his co-stars treat him because his experience on set is reportedly better. Of course, it was more fun and liberating for him because, for the first time, he was being true to himself. Concealing one’s sexual orientation can be difficult, but most do so due to fear of rejection, judgment, shame, and guilt. However, this will only lead to emotional stress and anxiety. It could also mean living a double life, which can be exhausting and emotionally draining. Hence, it’s understandable why Schnapp’s coming out entirely changed his experience on set.
Authenticity brings peace and helps one build a genuine connection with others. So, with Schnapp admitting his sexual orientation, he not only freed himself but also opened doors for more honest, deeper, and meaningful relationships with his co-stars and crew members. Additionally, he not only boosted his self-esteem by embracing his authentic self, he also inspired others to do the same. Without pretension, one can fully express their love, joy and pain. For sure, this was what Schnapp experienced and everyone was happy for him.
Stranger ThingsSeason 5 is expected to premiere on Netflix this year.
