Noah Schnapp Is Terrifyingly Excited for Final Season

It’s safe to say Noah Schnapp is in his feels because Stranger Things isn’t the only thing coming to an end.

As the fifth and final season of the hit Netflix show approaches, the 21-year-old actor is preparing to part ways with a character who has been with him for a decade. Schnapp made his debut as Will Byers in season one in 2016. He admits he was “just playing myself” in the beginning: “I was that shy, timid little boy.”

But over the course of 10 years, not only did Will grow up on screen but Schnapp did in real life as well, going on to attend the University of Pennsylvania to study film. But as he prepares to graduate next year, there’s a lot to process with two big chapters nearing their final pages.

“I’m graduating in a few months at the same time as the finale is coming out,” he tells The Hollywood Reporter. “All these chapters of my childhood are closing, and now I’m stepping into a brand new world of anything can happen. It’s equally terrifying and exciting.”

Below, Schnapp opens up about Will’s journey in Hawkins and teases what fans can expect in the final season, which is releasing in three parts beginning on Thursday. He also chats about why he decided to go to college while filming the show, how he handles online criticism and what he’s looking forward to most post-Stranger Things.

Since Stranger Things and Will have been a part of your life for some time, what comes to mind when you reflect back on the actor you were at the beginning and who you are now?

I’ve found a lot more confidence as an actor. When I was younger, I was just there being pushed around and told what to do, trying to figure out what I’m allowed to speak up for and not. Now I know my part in this whole project, and I’m allowed to have a point of view and speak on it. I’ve become a lot more collaborative with the directors and outspoken when I believe something is important for my character, and just trying to grow as an actor. When you’re surrounded by so many talented people for so many years, you try to become a sponge.

There were several years in between filming seasons four and five. Were you nervous going into this final season, or did you feel like you were returning home in a sense?

The most nervous, because this show grows and grows every year. With this final season also being the last, there was so much pressure on it. So I felt extremely nervous walking into the expectations we had to fulfill, but also excited to be back with the people I love and falling right back into place with these best friends I’ve had since I was so young. We will be friends for the rest of our life, but the relationships we have while working together and filming and being together every day is unlike anything. I’m always trying to be as present as possible through it.

How would you say Will has changed this final season, compared to past ones?

Will’s been through so much, and all those trials and tribulations have shaped him into such a strong person because when you go through that much and you come out of it on the other side, you’re just so much stronger and know so much more. In the beginning, Will was this really scared, shy little boy. He’s grown into a really strong, self-assured character, and we get to see that in the first volume.

Is there a special moment you recall from behind the scenes while filming season five?

There are so many. We had Caleb [McLaughlin’s] birthday [and] we all went out and stayed up super late. On my birthday, we went to a Charlie xcx concert together. We celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving at Finn [Wolfhard’s] House as a group. We do things outside of work to nurture our relationships. I was always at Millie [Bobby Brown’s] house. Millie threw so many parties. She did a Halloween party and a July 4th party, and we’re always having sleepovers over there. Being with them as much as I could was the most fun. And then, of course, the last day was the most memorable for me.

Since Will has been with you for so long now, do you think there are parts of him that will stay with you forever?  

In the first season, Will was just me. I was playing myself. That shy, timid little boy. Then as we’ve grown, we’ve kind of grown apart. We’ve gone through different things that shaped us in different ways, and I think what’s always been the same has been that sensitivity he has that I also feel, but I’m a little more outspoken and silly. He’s a little more closed off. But it’s fun to insert parts of myself and then get to play different aspects. With the supernatural stuff, there’s nothing I can really connect to myself, so getting to do that was really fun.

What are you looking forward to most about seeing fan reactions once the final season releases?

I’ve been holding it in for so long, so I’ve been looking forward to the day this all drops. It’s so touching and empowering. So getting to inspire a lot of people, and maybe even in the queer community for people to feel empowered to be themselves, I just can’t wait to see how it touches people, and if it does.

Overall, what should Stranger Things fans be prepared for going into this epic final season? 

Anything can happen. The stakes are the highest they’ve ever been. We’re closing out the stories of our characters, so everything that’s left has to be tied up. You get to see all those knots finally get closed, all those questions you’ve been waiting to know you will get to figure out through the season. But it’s definitely our most emotional and the one we’ve put the most time and love into.

Aside from your success in Hollywood at a young age, you still decided to step away and attend college. What led you to that decision? 

Growing up, education was always so important. Even on set, I went through so many different teachers. My parents were like, “He’s not being educated well enough. He needs a math [teacher] and a different English teacher.” It was always a priority to me. I always grew up valuing that path. And it was never really a question whether I would go to college or not, just more of what I would study. I knew I wanted to be an actor, but I wasn’t rushing it. I wanted to have my childhood and get all those experiences first before rushing into everything and losing the sense of normal life. So I had to put some projects on the side burner to prioritize school. But now it’s interesting because I’m graduating in a few months at the same time the finale is coming out. So all these chapters of my childhood are closing, and now I’m stepping into a brand new world of anything can happen. It’s equally terrifying and exciting.

How did getting a formal education in film studies add to the knowledge you’ve been able to gain working on set?

All I’ve really known is acting. It’s helped me explore and learn about other facets, taking screenwriting and directing classes and being like, “OK, maybe I actually want to write a movie for myself, or maybe I want to direct something.” So it’s really piqued my interest outside of the acting world that I could do that too at some point. I’m not a great screenwriter (Laughs). It’s so hard, but hopefully one day we’ll learn how to do that as well as the Duffers.

Do you have a dream genre or role you would love to take on in the future? 

When I was younger, I always wanted to be Spider-Man and do a cool action hero role, but I feel like I got to do that now with Stranger Things. So now it’s finding things that I’ve never done before. I just want to defy expectations of what I’ve done and do something completely different — maybe a comedy or playing a movie where I’m madly in love with a girl or being the villain or something I’ve never done. That’s what I’m seeking out next, and trying things outside the TV world, whether that be movies or theater [or] directing. Just really stepping out of what I’ve known. I’ve been in such a little bubble for these past 10 years with Stranger Things.

You also came out publicly a few years ago, so would you like to do any projects that spotlight the LGBTQ community?

Absolutely. If the right project comes that I feel really resonates, then I will. I don’t want to just do anything. Because it’s so personal to me, I’ve been a little more picky with those kinds of projects. I want it to really resonate and mean something, and not just be another one for whatever diversity points. But I’m absolutely open to that.

As someone who’s grown up in the spotlight, how have you managed the constant online criticism and commentary?

Still figuring it out, to be honest. When I was younger, I was really involved on social media and loved being right there with all the fans. I adore my fans. I love connecting with them. But as I’ve gotten older, and honestly with advice for my co-stars who kind of have learned to manage the online presence with their own lives, I’ve learned to value privacy a bit more and understand it’s not healthy to be reading thousands of opinions about yourself every day, and creating some distance is good. I’ve just learned to have a healthier relationship with social media, but it’s hard. I’m not going to lie. I’m sensitive and I read everything, and it definitely gets to me and gets in my head. That’s why I’m so lucky to have these co-stars I can turn to and be reminded of what really matters.

When you’re so public, everyone has an opinion or a thought on what you should do, what you shouldn’t do, and there’s no right way to do it. Everything is wrong in the public’s eyes if you do it this way, if you do it that way. It’s exhausting, and it’s a lot of pressure to have to live up to these expectations of Hollywood. When you’re 16, 17, you don’t even know yourself yet. It’s a weird experience, but I’ve also met so many amazing fans and had such great conversations with so many people who really adore our show and my character, and that I keep with me forever. That is so important to me.

Is there a moment in your career so far that you’re most proud of? 

Winning that SAG Award was a dream come true. That’s probably one of the most memorable days, but this final season I’m most proud of for our show. I’m really proud that I’ve been able to preserve a somewhat natural childhood and go to school and get a degree at an Ivy League school while also being on a show.

It sounds like it’s almost your own version of Hannah Montana.

Friends call me Hand Montana. Literally. It’s so funny because I’ll do this press tour, we’ll go to the premiere, there’s thousands of screaming fans, and then I come home at night and I have to join a Zoom and class. And my teacher’s yelling at me that I missed the assignment from last week. And I’m like, “Oh my God, this is literally Hannah Montana’s life.”

If you had to describe what makes Noah Schnapp, Noah Schnapp, what would you say?

Maybe very unapologetically honest and myself, and I never put on any sort of facade. I think I’m always very true to who I am.

Season five of Stranger Things will be released in three parts: Volume 1 on Nov. 26 (consisting of four episodes), Volume 2 on Christmas (three episodes) and The Finale on New Year’s Eve. Read the Duffer Brothers’ rewatch recommendations ahead of the final season.