at the end of episode 4 stranger things 5An epic plot twist unfolds, some so seismic that you’re left stunned as the credits roll.
Will Byers has powers.
As Vecna (Jamie Campbell Bower) ambushes our heroes, Byers (Noah Schnapp) takes control of the Demogorgon and Vecna’s mind and frees his friends from the monster’s deadly grip. It’s a surprising moment for Will after four seasons with the boy who was murdered on November 6, 1983. When the first four episodes of Season 5 were released on November 26, the revelation that Will has powers undoubtedly shocked fans.
Even Schnapp was surprised, so much so that he sent a long text to series co-creators Matt and Ross Duffer the day after filming that scene to thank them for Will’s storyline this season. He told them, “You guys don’t understand how grateful I am for this show and this character, and the way you wrote the will for the final season is something I never would have dreamed of.”
However, the Duffers had already plotted Will’s journey and knew that he was to play a key role in stopping Vecna’s reign.
,We always knew Will had ties to Vecna and the Upside Down,” says Ross Duffer. “In Season 2, we started to delve deeper into this, but one of the earliest ideas in the new season is, ‘What if Will is able to harness this connection and use it against our villains?’ It also felt very natural to us to retell the story on Will. He was the kid who was taken in Season 1, so it felt right to complete the story. If anyone is going to be the key to taking down Vecna, it should be Will.”
Matt Duffer says, ,We were more interested in knowing how he develops these powers, and how does it connect to his character? And there’s a lot that Will has been dealing with over the course of the four seasons preceding this – a lot of emotions and internal conflicts that remain unresolved. So we wanted her to grow as a human being and become a more fully formed version of who she is, to really accept who she is. And once he’s able to do that, he’s able to use these incredible powers.
Winona Ryder, who played Joyce Byers (Will’s mother), was also impressed by her son’s awakening. Ryder says, “I remember the scene where I encouraged him to find Vecna, and I trust him. When I read it, my instinct was that there’s no way I could encourage him to do something so dangerous.” “But then something happened, and Joyce realized she was strong and smart enough to do that. That scene in particular was incredibly meaningful and important to their relationship.
Ryder adds, “Noah blew me away this season.” “She had a lot to do, and oh my God, it was beautiful work. It was incredible to watch.”
beyond his powers, stranger things 5‘s first four episodes are also notable for Will’s deepening relationship with Robin (Maya Hawke), who tells him some secret truths that resonate with his younger friend. Robin tells Will about Tammy, whom he had a crush on, but later realizes that she was looking for answers in someone else, while he had them all.
Hawk says, “If I did a good job in that scene, all the credit goes to Noah, how present he was and how active he was in his emotional life and how much time he gave me to work.” “I’ve taken it on as my responsibility with Noah to mentor Robin for Will. His character really becomes himself in this (season), in more ways than one, and I think that makes Robin feel less alone and more useful.”
Below, Schnapp explains how he prepared to film that bloody battle with Vecna, why his bond with Hawke was so important, and how aspects of Will’s story have illuminated his own story.
Where will we find Will at the start of this new season?
Noah Schnapp: Will returns to Hawkins this season. He was out of Hawkins for much of last season, so now we’re seeing the effects of him being back in that area. This season we have hit the ground running straight away, which is really exciting and we have started like no other season. Everyone is in the same place and we all have the same purpose.
What excites you most about Will’s story this season?
Schnapp: I’m excited to see Will come into his own and become more confident about himself and see where it takes him. She’s more than just a kid who was kidnapped, and this season you’ll see what’s beyond that and the layers beneath that. I’m excited to see her explore her identity, interact with her friends, and understand more about her connection to the Upside Down.
stranger things 5 Stranger Scene: Will in the Upside Down
In Episode 4, Will has a superhero moment where he takes control of the Demogorgons and saves his friends. What did that moment mean to you?
Schnapp: It was such a dream. I remember writing a long paragraph to the Duffers the day after we filmed that scene and saying, “You guys don’t understand how grateful I am for this show and this character, and the way you wrote the will for the final season is something I never would have dreamed of.” So to have that opportunity with that scene was an incredible experience, such a high for me and probably one of my favorite filming scenes of the year. And for Will, that moment is like a Holy Grail moment.
How did you prepare for that moment in Vesna’s mind in that scene?
Schnapp: It was scary, to be honest, because I’ve never worked with Vecna one-on-one, which is crazy because we’re so connected and our stories have so many similarities. But I was scared seeing him on the set and being face to face with him and that really helped the performance. I can really feel a part of it, because it’s not CGI and most of it is Jamie Campbell Bower in real costume and hours of makeup. He was incredible to work with and he’s an amazing actor too. And I think it’s excellent how it all comes together with Will and Vecna.
What is special and important about Will’s relationship with Robin this season?
Schnapp: I’ve always been fascinated by Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, and I really wanted to work with her. I’d always watch her in other seasons and say, “Oh my God, she’s magnetic. I love her. I want to do a scene with her.” And I never really got a chance to interact with him. So when I read the script for this season, and four or five episodes were about me and Robin, I was very excited to film with her. Working with him was amazing and he taught me a lot. She became like a big sister to me and it was really nice. Our relationship on the show versus off the show reflects each other. She’s been kind of a guide for me throughout the year, but I think it was incredibly important for Will’s story to meet Robin and see someone else so confident about her identity and share her knowledge with him to help him find himself.
How do you think Will has evolved since Season 1?
Schnapp: Will was actually a shy, very reserved child who did not open up about anything. He was afraid to share his feelings and felt that he did not belong and that it was wrong to be different. And after years of being left out and ostracized and slowly growing up, she realizes that this is her superpower. And that’s one of the themes of our show: What makes everyone so special and beautiful and unique are their differences. When Will finally realizes, “I accept myself, I love myself and what makes me different and unique,” he truly flourishes.
The first four episodes of stranger things 5 Now streaming on Netflix, it will be followed by three more episodes on Christmas Day and the finale on New Year’s Eve. Find out when new episodes drop in your part of the world Hereand test your knowledge stranger things with us superfan quiz,
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