Noah Schnapp tells fans to ‘cherish’ last moments of Stranger Things
By Lauren Del Fabbro, PA Entertainment Reporter
Stranger Things actor Noah Schnapp has told fans to “cherish” the last moments of the series as its penultimate episodes land on Netflix ahead of the series finale on January 1st.
The 21-year-old plays Will Byers in the hit sci-fi series about a group of friends, from the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana, who face dark forces from an alternate dimension called the Upside Down.
In the first series of the 1980s-set coming-of-age drama, Will becomes lost in the Upside Down with his friends embarking on a mission to find him with the help of a new friend – a psychokinetic girl named Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown.
Its fifth and final series, which has been divided into three parts with volume two released on Boxing Day, followed by the finale on New Year’s Day, sees Hawkins placed under a military quarantine and an intensified hunt to find Eleven, as the group of friends comes up against antagonist Vecna for one final time.
In a post shared on Instagram, Schnapp said: “So excited to share this chapter with all of you.
“As we head into the final week of Stranger Things, please take a moment to really soak it in. Cherish these last moments, finding comfort in your favorite characters, debriefing with friends, reliving scenes together online afterward. These matter more than we sometimes realise.
“I’m truly so grateful for the family we’ve built here. I love you all like my own close friends and family.
“One of the greatest joys for me has been watching you form real friendships with each other, meeting you unexpectedly in public (or purposefully on DMs and video games) and feeling your pure excitement, and knowing how much this show has meant to so many people who needed connection, belonging, and a place to feel accepted.
“You will always have a place with me, and in this show, no matter who you are. We love you exactly as you are.”
The actor also encouraged fans to embrace one of the core messages of the series about self-acceptance with volume one of series five showing Schnapp’s character Will begin to come to terms with his identity after appearing to struggle with his sexuality.
It comes after Schnapp opened up about his own sexuality in an interview with Variety in 2023, describing coming out as gay as “liberating”.
He added: “If there’s one thing to remember from our show: connection is what keeps us alive. And the only way to truly connect is to let people see the real you, and realize you can be loved even more when you do.
“Real power isn’t telekinesis or cool hand movements (though those can be pretty badass). It’s friendship, loyalty, and accepting yourself and others exactly as we come.”
Created by the Duffer Brothers, Stranger Things first aired in 2016 and also stars Beetlejuice actress Winona Ryder, Hellboy’s David Harbour and actors Finn Wolfhard, Caleb McLaughlin, Gaten Matarazzo, Sadie Sink, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer and Maya Hawke.
The franchise has since expanded into a play, titled Stranger Things: The First Shadow, as well as an upcoming animated spin-off, Stranger Things: Tales From ’85.
The Stranger Things series five finale hits Netflix on New Year’s Day.