Stranger Things Star Noah Schnapp's Bold Revelation to Millie Bobby Brown - The Inside Story

Noah Schnapp and Millie Bobby Brown. Kevin Mazur/SAG/Turner/Shutterstock

Noah Schnapp, 18, recently had a list of people he needed to confide in about his personal life, which included his Stranger Things co-star and best friend, Millie Bobby Brown. In a recent interview with Variety, Schnapp revealed that he found it challenging to share the news with Brown in person, so he opted to FaceTime her one day while he was at Party City. During the call, Schnapp mustered the courage to tell Brown that he is gay, to which she responded with excitement, saying, "Oh, Schnapper! You finally told me!"

Schnapp publicly came out in February through a TikTok video, sharing the news with his loved ones, including his enthusiastic twin sister, Chloe. The video featured Schnapp lip-syncing to a woman's voice saying, "You know what it never was? That serious." Accompanied by text overlay, he expressed his experience of finally revealing his truth after living in fear for 18 years, only to have his friends and family respond with, "we know."

The caption stated, "I realize now that I have a lot in common with Will."

Rumors about Schnapp's character in the TV show Stranger Things, Will Byers, being queer started during the first season of the show in 2016. Schnapp eventually confirmed in the season 4 premiere in May 2022 that the character is gay and has romantic feelings for his best friend, Mike Wheeler (played by Finn Wolfhard), who is currently in a relationship with Eleven (played by Brown).

Schnapp didn't seriously contemplate Will's sexuality until season 3, which ultimately aided his own self-awareness. "After fully embracing Will's gay identity, I rapidly came to accept it within myself," he revealed to Variety. "If I hadn't had the opportunity to portray Will and embrace his character, I would likely still be concealing my own sexuality."

Schnapp, who joined the cast of Stranger Things when he was only 10 years old, expressed that during the first two seasons of the sci-fi series, he was too "young" to grasp the notion of sexual identity fully.

"I didn't give it much thought," he stated. "I don't think I even recognized that I was gay."

Millie Bobby Brown as Eleven, Noah Schnapp as Will Byers, Finn Wolfhard as Mike Wheeler. Courtesy of Netflix

The confirmation of Will's queerness in season 4 and the overwhelmingly positive response altered the course of things for Schnapp. He mentioned how the news spread in the media and people expressed their excitement and support on platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Witnessing this immense support for Will being gay made Schnapp realize that there is no need for him to worry about anything. With this newfound confidence and the fact that both Schnapp and Will are now open about their identities, it is expected that the actor's approach to the final season of Stranger Things will be different.

In Season 5, I anticipate my approach to acting will be slightly altered," he expressed. "I will possess a thorough understanding of my own identity, allowing me to wholeheartedly embody my character. It genuinely excites me to be able to invest that knowledge into my portrayal."

Schanpp's astute connection with his character's emotions will undoubtedly play a vital role during the filming of the show's concluding season 5. The Duffer brothers, creators of Stranger Things, have intentions of centering the finale around Will.

"This emotional trajectory for Will is expected to serve as the unifying thread throughout the entire series," Ross shared with Variety. "Being accustomed to being the younger, introverted individual who relies on others for protection, Will's journey encompasses more than just his sexuality. It encompasses his personal growth as a young man."