Jan 9
Noah Schnapp Advocated For Key Will/Mike Scene in 'Stranger Things' Finale to Give Queer Storyline Closure
READ TIME: 3 MIN.
Stranger Things star Noah Schnapp has disclosed that he personally requested an additional scene between Will Byers and Mike Wheeler in the series finale, saying he felt their relationship needed a more complete resolution.
The fifth and final season of the Netflix series was released in two parts, with the concluding episodes dropping at the end of December and the finale arriving on 31 December 2025. In the final run, Will openly comes out as gay to his friends and family, confirming a storyline that had been heavily implied but never spoken aloud in earlier seasons. This explicit coming‑out arc was especially significant for many LGBTQ+ viewers who had long read Will as a queer character.
Speaking to People magazine about the finale, Schnapp said he approached creators Matt and Ross Duffer after feeling that Will and Mike’s dynamic was left “a little bit left unsaid” following the penultimate episode. He explained that the Duffers responded by crafting and filming a new sequence between the two boys for the final episode. In comments reported by both People and LGBTQ+ outlet PinkNews, Schnapp praised the showrunners’ openness to cast input, saying they are willing to rework scenes if something “doesn’t feel right” for the characters.
The added scene takes place as Will and Mike climb a radio tower during a mission to reach the Abyss, a new dimension introduced in the final season. Away from the rest of the group, Mike pulls Will aside and apologizes for not being there for him earlier, now fully aware that Will has had romantic feelings for him throughout their friendship. Will tells Mike that coming out and confronting his feelings was something he ultimately had to do for himself, and then asks whether they can still be friends. Mike jokingly replies “no thanks” before quickly correcting himself to call Will his “best friend, ” signaling that he accepts Will and wants to preserve their bond. For many queer viewers, that reassurance of enduring friendship after an unrequited same‑gender crush echoes real‑life experiences of navigating close relationships after coming out.
Schnapp told People that he views Will’s arc with Mike as “completely closed and satisfying, ” adding that he believes fans “will be happy” with how their story ends. In the show’s epilogue, Will is seen going on a date with a man, though the series does not define the exact nature of that relationship, leaving some room for viewers’ interpretation while firmly positioning Will as a gay young man with a future beyond his first crush.
The creative choice to add more explicit closure around Will and Mike comes after years of discussion about queer representation on Stranger Things. In earlier seasons, Will’s sexuality was hinted at but never confirmed, and Schnapp himself publicly came out as gay in 2023, later saying that he connected strongly with Will’s journey. While those personal details sit outside the storyline, many LGBTQ+ fans have said that both the on‑screen arc and Schnapp’s off‑screen openness contributed to feeling seen by a globally popular genre series.
Response to the finale from the broader fanbase has been mixed, with some viewers expressing disappointment about other unresolved plot points but the cast, including Schnapp, calling the ending “perfect” and emotionally powerful. At the same time, online LGBTQ+ communities have highlighted Will’s coming‑out sequence and the late‑added Will–Mike scene as rare examples of a mainstream fantasy series centering a gay teenage boy’s emotional life without resorting to tragedy.
Schnapp’s account of advocating for this final conversation underscores how collaborative decisions behind the camera can shape on‑screen queer representation. By ensuring that Will’s feelings were acknowledged and that his friendship with Mike was reaffirmed, the added scene offers a clearer, more affirming conclusion for a character who has become an important touchstone for many young LGBTQ+ viewers watching Stranger Things around the world.
