'Stranger Things' star Noah Schnapp has confirmed the theories that his character, Will Byers, is in love with his best friend Mike Wheeler.
Will's part in season 4 most focuses on the internal struggles of the character. While central to the first season's plot, Will has become something of a periphery character in recent years. He struggles to fit in as the quiet one in the group.
Speaking to Variety, Schnapp discussed his character's tough journey in season 4 of the hit Netflix show.
"I mean, it’s pretty clear this season that Will has feelings for Mike. I think for Season 4, it was just me playing this character who loves his best friend but struggles with knowing if he’ll be accepted or not, and feeling like a mistake and like he doesn’t belong. Will has always felt like that."
In one particularly moving season this season, Will talks about his feelings for Mike through the prism of Eleven. As they drive off in silence, Will bursts into tears as he looks out the window.
"This scene was really important for him, because it really solidified that truth, that he loves his best friend and he doesn’t know how to tell him," said Schnapp. "Now it’s 100% clear that he is gay and he does love Mike. But before, it was a slow arc. I think it is done so beautifully. Because it’s so easy to make a character just like all of a sudden be gay."
Schnapp also revealed that a later scene featuring a heart to heart with Will and his brother Jonathan was actually added into the script later on.
"They wrote it as we were filming. It’s also very important for people to see that Will is not alone. Because all we ever see of him is struggling and feeling depressed and that he can’t be himself. Jonathan is talking to him in code. It’s just the perfect way to tell someone like Will that he cares about him and he accepts him no matter what. I think it was really wholesome."
'Stranger Things' Season 4 is available to watch on Netflix.
