Featured Image Credit: Alamy/Netflix
Topics: Stranger Things, Netflix, Film and TV
Claire Reid
Noah Schnapp has confirmed his Stranger Things character Will Byers is gay and is in love with Mike Wheeler.
Fans have long suspected that Will’s feelings for Mike, played by Finn Wolfhard, were more than just friendly - and many believed that the touching scene in the back of the van from season four all but confirmed it.
Now, Schnapp has given his opinion, telling Variety that he believes it's ‘100 percent clear’ his character is gay and in love with Mike.
He told the publication: “Obviously, it 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?
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“Now that he’s gotten older, they made it a very real, obvious thing. Now it’s 100 percent 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.”
Fans were left convinced that Will’s sexuality was confirmed during an emotional exchange in the back of Argyle’s (Eduardo Franco) pizza truck in season four.
It begins with Mike opening up to Will about how he fears Eleven might not love him anymore and will no longer need him in her life.
And in an attempt to console his friend, Will tells him Eleven has struggled to be apart from Mike while living in California, but it appears she isn’t the only one who is missing having Mike in their life every day.
Will says: "When you're different, sometimes you feel like a mistake. But you make her 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.”
Speaking about the scene, Schnapp said: “I remember when I was doing the scene, I was bawling, like, going all out the whole day.
"And when I saw it on screen, it was actually more subtle. I liked how they edited it together. The day was a lot of fun. I love just playing Will.
“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.”
If you’ve been affected by any of these issues and want to speak to someone in confidence, contact the LGBT Foundation on 0345 3 30 30 30, 10am–6pm Monday to Friday, or email [email protected]