‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Vol 2: Noah Schnapp Says He Spent 24 Hours on Will’s Emotional Key Scene

Noah Schnapp opened up about filming one of the most emotional moments for his character, Will Byers, in “Stranger Things” Season 5 Volume 2. In Episode 7, titled “The Bridge,” Will finally tells his friends, “I don’t like girls,” a powerful moment marking his coming out.

Schnapp told Variety that filming the monologue was an intense experience, taking 12 hours for the initial shoot and another 12 hours for reshoots.

Schnapp explained that he knew the scene was coming but didn’t know the exact details until late in the filming schedule. “Eventually, they said they had it, and I read it by the end of the year in August or September. And I was just in tears. It was perfect,” he said. The actor said the script was so well-written that he didn’t need to make changes.

The scene was shot in front of the full cast, including Winona Ryder, Finn Wolfhard, and Maya Hawke. Schnapp admitted that he was so focused on his emotions that he barely noticed anyone around him.

“I kind of had to because it was so nerve-racking to know that the entire cast was there watching me,” he said. Director Shawn Levy confirmed that the reactions captured on camera were genuine.

Schnapp described the filming as exhaustive but rewarding. “It was like a 12-hour day of just that monologue. And we weren’t even done after the 12-hour day. We came back a week later to reshoot certain parts of the scene for another 12 hours,” he said. He prepared for months, repeating lines out loud without emotion to memorize them before exploring feelings during the shoot. Schnapp also credited his co-star Maya Hawke for advice on managing the lines and performance.

Multiple takes allowed Schnapp to try different approaches. He recalled debating whether to shoot the close-up first or later in the day. “I decided last minute, ‘Let’s just start with the close up. I’m ready to go and I just want to do it.’ And then it was like one of the first takes of the day, and that was most of the meat of the scene. It was real and raw and I’m glad I did it that way,” he said.

Schnapp noted that the final edit balanced sadness and lighter moments. “I’m glad that they edited it the way they did, where it’s nice to see him not just sob through the whole scene, but kind of smile through the memories and give that lighter feel. It makes it hit harder,” he said.

He also addressed why Will says, “I don’t like girls” rather than explicitly using the word gay. “We have to remember that it’s the 1980s. When I came out, I didn’t say the word ‘gay.’ It’s hard, and it feels scary to say it. In the ’80s, I can’t imagine how much more pressure there was and how much more there was to lose. When Will is first coming to terms with it in front of his friends, he’s probably scared to use that word,” Schnapp explained.

This scene not only concludes Will’s personal arc but also highlights Schnapp’s growth as an actor over ten years playing the character. Schnapp’s real-life experience of coming out in 2023 gave additional depth to the performance, making the monologue both authentic and moving.

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