He said it, he actually said it. Will, surrounded by friends, family, and chosen family, opened up and told them he is gay.
With so much buildup over the years, it’s hard to imagine that the reality could possibly live up to the expectation, but the Duffer brothers and actor Noah Schnapp pulled off a coup and delivered one of the most moving and cathartic coming-out scenes in recent memory.
In part, this scene was so impactful because it was also one of the rare instances of the whole cast being in one place. The Hawkins crew had all come together to marshal their forces for one last battle against Vecna, and Will realizes that if they have any shot at defeating their foe, he would have to disarm the one bomb their enemy held over the young closeted kid. So he gathered them around him and proceeded to share, with equal parts fear and hope, that he is the same Will they have always known, and that he is just like them, except for one thing: He’s gay.
Noah Schapp and Maya Hawke in 'Stranger Things'
Netflix
The reaction from his friends and family is everything we had hoped: some were shocked, some less so, but all met the news with compassion, love, and acceptance.
If it was emotional for audiences, it was only more so for Schnapp, the out actor tells PRIDE. “It’s one of the most emotional [scenes], if not the most, I've ever had on the show,” he recalls, adding how meaningful it was to have the cast around him for that moment. “And the fact that the entire cast was there, and it wasn't just a Will and Joy scene, was all the more emotional, because I'd never had the chance to sit down with them and really tell them personally what my truth is.”
But it wasn’t just the people in the room on Schnapp’s mind, but the fans—queer fans in particular—who he didn’t want to let down. “It was a lot of pressure because you want to get it right for all these people out there who are struggling with those same self-identity issues. I wanted it to be perfect, so I prepared for it more than I ever have for a scene.”
Noah Schapp in 'Stranger Things'
Netflix
The work paid off. The scene is triumphant and meaningful for so many; both those who identify with Will, or perhaps have a Will in their lives.
It was emotional for Schnapp, too. “It was cathartic to get to do that with the cast. And after the scene, the day wrapped and they cut, and it just became real tears. I was crying, hugging Charlie [Heaton], and it just all felt so real.”
Will defeated his inner demons and fears; now he just has one left: Vecna. How will it turn out? We’ll have to wait until the final episode debuts December 31.
Lili Reinhart and Lola Tung in Meredith Alloway’s Forbidden Fruits.Courtesy of Sabrina Lantos/IFC
Lola Tung, Victoria Pedretti, Alexandra Shipp, and Lili Reinhart in Meredith Alloway’s Forbidden Fruits.Courtesy of Sabrina Lantos/IFC
Lili Reinhart, Victoria Pedretti and Alexandra Shipp in Meredith Alloway’s Forbidden Fruits.Courtesy of Sabrina Lantos/IFC
Alexandra Shipp and Victoria Pedretti in Meredith Alloway’s Forbidden Fruits.Courtesy of Sabrina Lantos/IFC
From left: Harry Potter actors Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, David Tennant, and Bonnie Wright.Fred Duval/Shutterstock; Ron Adar/Shutterstock; Eugene Powers/Shutterstock; DFree/Shutterstock
Samara Weaving and Kathryn Newton.Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman
Samara Weaving.Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman
Nestor Carbonell, Sarah Michelle Gellar, Shawn Hatosy, Elijah Wood, and Nadeem Umar-Khitab.Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman
Daniel Beirne, David Cronenberg (portrait) Shawn Hatosy, and Sarah Michelle Gellar.Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman
Elijah Wood.Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman
Kathryn Newton.Searchlight Pictures/Pief Weyman
Taz Skylar, Emily Rudd, Jacob Romero, Mackenyu, and Iñaki Godoy.Netflix
Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday.Netflix
Emily Rudd as Nami & Charithra Chandran as Miss Wednesday.Netflix