‘Stranger Things’: Jake Connelly Reveals the One Word That Describes Derek’s Future

Jake Connelly is quickly becoming a breakout star thanks to his role as “Delightful Derek” in season five of Stranger Things. In a recent interview, the young actor opened up about his whirlwind rise to fame, his experience on set, and what fans can expect from his character moving forward.

Reflecting on the past few weeks, Jake described the experience as “amazing and surreal.” He shared that classmates now approach him at school for autographs and selfies—something he never imagined would happen so fast. While he always knew Stranger Things was a massive show, seeing the impact firsthand has been overwhelming.

Jake recalled the unforgettable moment he learned he had landed the role. It happened right after his family emerged from their basement during a tornado warning. His talent agents asked to jump on a call, and suddenly representatives from Los Angeles, Chicago, and New York all appeared on screen, announcing: “Jake, you’re going to Hawkins.”

Describing his journey on the show in three words, Jake said it began with nervousness, turned into excitement, and ended feeling bittersweet.

Keeping his casting a secret was one of the biggest challenges. For nearly a year and a half, Jake told everyone he was working on a “mayonnaise documentary,” a story he chose because people rarely asked follow-up questions—especially other kids his age. The excuse worked perfectly.

On his first day on set, Jake immediately felt welcomed. During table reads, Joe Keery, Gaten Matarazzo, and Charlie Heaton jokingly threw paper at each other, helping him feel at ease. Cast and crew even decorated his trailer with candy and balloons to make him feel at home.

Jake spoke warmly about working with the veteran cast, particularly Winona Ryder, who offered advice drawn from her own experiences as a child actor. She shared a humorous story about having to eat chocolate repeatedly for a film role, which helped Jake feel less nervous and more connected.

Between takes, the cast bonded through games and pranks. Jake and his mom even played a harmless joke on Noah Schnapp during a Bananagrams game, earning a playful scolding from Maya Hawke.

When asked about his favorite Derek line, Jake laughed and admitted he loved delivering one particular insult, especially when doing it in his Cartman-style voice—a bit that fans loved when he performed it on The Tonight Show.

Looking ahead, Jake shared his dreams of one day appearing in a superhero movie and even hinted at wanting a project connected to his favorite football team, the Chicago Bears.

Finally, when asked to describe Derek’s future in one word, Jake paused before answering honestly:

“Bittersweet.”

The word left fans intrigued—and slightly heartbroken—about what’s still to come in the final episodes of Stranger Things.