Much speculation about Stranger Things character Will Byers being gay has come about over the years. Now, Noah Schnapp, who plays the character, has confirmed the character’s sexuality in an interview with Variety. This is a shift from his original statement that it was “up to the audience’s interpretation.”
To the actor, the hints were there from the first season. To him, the reasoning behind how Stranger Things portrayed Will Byers with his struggle of coming out was from him getting older. In this, he also confirmed that he has feelings for his best friend Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard).
Noah Schnapp confirms Stranger Things character Will Byers is Gay
Season 4 was going to handle his sexuality in more subtle ways, but plans changed as production moved forward. In a scene in the van with his costars, the emotion and protectiveness shown by him toward Mike popped an idea in the Duffer Brothers’ heads. In a later scene of Stranger Things, Will Byers has an encouraging conversation with his brother Jonathan (Charlie Heaton), who tells him that he accepts him for who he is without explicitly saying the words about his sexuality.
Fans debated how Stranger Things handled Will Byers being gay as the season progressed. LGBT representation has been a major push in TV and film, but not all have gotten it right. Some have avoided tackling it up front, similar to the sci-fi Netflix series. Others have been more positive about its subtly as the show is based in the 80s, a time that could lead to hostile shakeups in people’s lives if they came out. While it is being more accepted now, the show using its setting could be seen as a benefit. But, of course, it is up to the viewer to decipher hints and internalize how they feel about a show’s execution of something like a character struggling with their sexuality.
