‘Stranger Things’ Star Noah Schnapp Teases an Insane Season 5 Twist: “One of the Highlights of My Career”
The final season of Stranger Things is shaping up to be bigger, darker, and more explosive than ever — and according to Noah Schnapp, fans are in for a shocking twist.
While filming Stranger Things Season 5, Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, revealed an unexpected transformation for his character that left even him stunned. In behind-the-scenes footage from the set, the actor described one pivotal moment as a career-defining experience.
“Oh my god — I feel like any actor dreams of getting a moment like that,” Schnapp said. “It was honestly one of the highlights of my career.”
Will Byers Steps Into His Power
In a major turn for the series, Will appears to evolve into a powerful sorcerer-like figure, gaining the ability to control creatures from the Upside Down. Schnapp revealed that he filmed the epic final scene — one filled with fire, destruction, and fallen enemies — in a single take.
“Having that moment on that set was incredible,” he shared. “It felt like an action movie. I was standing there with fire around me, all the bodies dead, and I was the only one standing. Boom, boom, boom. It was pure joy.”
The scene places Will at the center of the battle, marking a dramatic shift from the vulnerable kid fans first met in Season 1.
Inside the Explosive Battle Zone
Schnapp also gave a tour of the massive set where the climactic battle unfolds, revealing the complex stunt work behind the chaos.
“Behind me, you can see a bunch of cranes with wires,” he explained. “We’re setting up for the battle. Those cranes are for the stunts — they’re going to be connected to wires so actors get pulled and thrown. It’s pretty cool to watch.”
The scale of the sequence suggests Season 5 will deliver the show’s most ambitious action scenes yet.
Mike Takes Command
The footage also highlights Finn Wolfhard’s Mike Wheeler stepping into a leadership role, guiding the group through a war-torn Hawkins.
“When I read it, Mike leads the kids through what’s basically a battlefield,” Wolfhard said. “I was like, ‘Oh man, I should probably start running,’ because I’ve never done that kind of work before.”
The moment signals a shift in group dynamics as the characters face their final showdown.
Vecna Returns — With a Twist
Fans can also expect a terrifying new evolution of Vecna. The massive rift to the Upside Down — largely created using blue screen — will be digitally enhanced with vines, slime, and visual effects. From this gate, a new version of Vecna emerges to unleash havoc on Hawkins.
Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Vecna, filmed the transformation using prosthetics and a bodysuit covered in tracking markers to allow for digital enhancements.
“He comes out of this big gate and just starts causing utter mayhem,” Schnapp teased. “We’re throwing people against walls. Somebody gets set on fire at some point.”
An Emotional Goodbye for Hopper and Eleven
Beyond the action, Season 5 will deliver deeply emotional moments — particularly between Jim Hopper (David Harbour) and Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown).
One scene reveals a heartbreaking “fail-safe” plan that suggests Hopper had been preparing to leave Eleven behind — a moment Schnapp described as “the ultimate betrayal.”
Despite the pain, the moment culminates in a powerful expression of love and pride, reinforcing the show’s core theme of family.
“I am so proud of you,” Hopper tells Eleven. “I’m proud of who you are.”
The Beginning of the End
With massive battles, shocking transformations, and emotional farewells, Stranger Things Season 5 promises to go out on an unforgettable note. As Will Byers steps fully into his power and Hawkins faces its darkest threat yet, the final chapter looks set to redefine the series — and its characters — forever.
