Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp has confirmed Will Byers’ sexuality in a new interview.
Since its debut in 2016, TV enthusiasts have immersed themselves in the critically-acclaimed Netflix sci-fi series.
While viewers have praised the show for its jaw-dropping battles and terrifying villains, fans have also become invested in the everchanging story arcs of its characters, including Will and his sexuality.
Throughout the series, fans have speculated that the character might be gay and in love with his childhood best friend, Mike Wheeler.
In Stranger Things 4: Vol. 2, it all came to a head when Will delivered a heartfelt speech about being different from other people – which some fans thought had queer implications.
“When you’re different, sometimes you feel like a mistake,” he said when discussing Will’s relationship with El.
In a recent interview with Variety, Schnapp ended the fan speculation by confirming that his character is in fact gay.
When asked about Will’s emotional story arc, the 17-year-old confirmed that it’d been teased since season one.
“Obviously, it was hinted at in Season 1: It was always kind of there, but you never really knew, is it just him growing up slower than his friends?” he explained.
“Now that he’s gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing. Now it’s 100% clear that he is gay, and he does love Mike. But before, it was a slow arc.
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“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 went on to say that fans have come up to him and praised the character for his slow burn coming out journey.
“I was just in Paris, and this, like, 40-year-old man came up to me, and he was like, ‘Wow, this Will character made me feel so good. And I related so much. That’s exactly who I was when I was a kid,”” he said.
“That just made me so happy to hear. They are writing this real character and this real journey and real struggle, and their doing it so well.”
Towards the end of his interview, Schnapp gave insight into what’s in store for Will in season five.
“I called [the Duffer Brothers] a few weeks ago and I was like, ‘What’s your plan with Will? Like, with his sexuality, but also with the Upside Down and all of that?'” he revealed.
“They have a lot to get to. They’re still working it out, but they have their end goal.
“There’s so many different things they have to address. Obviously, we hope for a coming-out scene, and I also want to see them address this connection to the Mind Flayer and how that fits into the world.”
You can watch all four seasons of Stranger Things on Netflix.
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