Noah Schnapp on Will’s Powers Reveal in Stranger Things 5

Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers in Stranger Things, finally sees his character take center stage in Stranger Things season 5, a point of high anticipation for fans. The emergence of Will’s supernatural abilities becomes a major turning point, capping off years of slow evolution and secrecy around the role, with Schnapp kept in the dark until just before filming began.

Schnapp’s Reaction to Will Byers’ Transformation

The evolution of Will Byers into a figure with hidden powers was carefully crafted by the Duffer brothers, Matt and Ross Duffer, and producer Shawn Levy. Their strategy was to keep Schnapp mostly uninformed about what would happen. Schnapp admitted,

“I remember the scripts being written the year prior, and Shawn Levy and some of some of the directors not telling me explicitly, because they never trust me with any of the information,”

Noah Schnapp, Actor. Despite some hints, the scripts only reached Schnapp and the cast shortly before read-throughs, as he revealed,

“But they told me, like, ‘Sit tight, be excited, like, there’s some good stuff coming.’ I was like, ‘Oh, OK, whatever.’ We only get the scripts a week or so before the table reads. I read Episode 4 the day of the table read, because I was like, ‘OK, I have to make sure I know my parts a little bit so I don’t sound like an idiot’.”

Noah Schnapp, Actor.

Describing his first look at the now-famous reveal, Schnapp recalled the moment vividly:

“So I was skimming it, and then, like, literally, in the shower getting ready, I got to the end, and I was like, ‘Oh my God!’ I ran out of the shower screaming.”

Noah Schnapp, Actor. He faced the hard task of keeping this pivotal plot secret for nearly two years because of the long post-production and series rollout. The wait made it even harder to hide his excitement, especially at home. As he explained,

“I lived with an assistant. Her name is Brooke. And I was like, ‘Brooke! Oh, my God, I have powers!’ I wanted to tell everyone I knew. And of course, I had to wait two years for anyone to see it. But: coolest thing ever,”

Noah Schnapp, Actor.

Portraying Will’s Newfound Abilities on Set

When filming finally began, Noah Schnapp was allowed plenty of creative control, which presented both challenges and opportunities.

“They kind of just left it up to me, which was a challenge, but exciting. There’s so much, with the Demo-vision as well — just all of these supernatural things that are presented brand new and there’s no reference to anything in the show or anything in real life, so you kind of just have to create it on your own,”

Noah Schnapp, Actor. The transformation was so meaningful to Schnapp that he expressed his gratitude directly to the creators, saying,

“You guys don’t understand how grateful I am for this show and this character, and the way you wrote Will for the final season is just something I could have never dreamed of,”

Noah Schnapp, Actor.

Key Events and the Upside Down Showdown in Season 5

As Season 5: Volume 1 unfolds, the story builds to a massive confrontation at Hawkins. Creatures from the Upside Down break through the military zone, proving to be overwhelming for the soldiers protecting the town. During the chaos, Robin and Murray scramble to evacuate school children, while Demogorgons pursue their vehicle. At the same time, Eleven and Hopper discover that Eight—another telekinetic survivor of the Hawkins Lab—is still alive but trapped in the Upside Down.

Vecna returns with an overpowering presence, easily disabling Joyce, Mike, Will, and others. He uses telekinesis to manipulate their weapons and grenades, then lifts Will into the air, confronting him and mocking both him and the children. As Demogorgons drag the kids toward danger, Vecna identifies Will as a particularly significant “vessel,” emphasizing his emotional vulnerabilities and potential.

In a crucial moment, Will Byers, bolstered by memories of love and friendship, taps into unexpected supernatural powers. He halts the Demogorgons via their hive mind, sees through their eyes, and destroys them from within, saving his friends and shifting the power dynamic of the group. The season ends with Will battered yet determined, his new abilities clearly evident, paving the way for even higher stakes in the episodes to come.

What This Means For Stranger Things’ Next Chapter

The reveal of Will Byers’ powers in Stranger Things 5 is a watershed moment both for the character and for the ensemble, affecting Joyce, Mike, Hopper, and the rest. Noah Schnapp’s journey—from secrecy around the scripts to creative independence on set—reflects both the depth of trust placed in the ensemble cast and the lengths to which the Duffer brothers go to ensure narrative surprises stay potent. As the story pushes forward, the fate of Hawkins hangs on how these new abilities will influence the escalating battle with Vecna and the creatures from the Upside Down, making Noah Schnapp Stranger Things 5 a key focus for fans and the wider fictional universe alike.