What you need to know
Noah Schnapp teases the ending of Stranger Things.
Ahead of the premiere of the fifth and final season of the hit Netflix series, the 21-year-old actor tells PEOPLE what fans can expect at the world premiere in Hollywood, Calif., earlier this month. Schnapp describes his first reaction when he read the final script as “incredible,” saying it was better than he had imagined.
“I remember before the scripts came out, people were texting me like, ‘Noah, look out, you’re going to love this season,'” he recalls. “And I thought, ‘Oh, whatever, whatever.’ And then the day before the book was read to the table, and I was reading it in the shower, I thought, ‘Oh my God.’ It’s like calling my mom and saying, “Oh my god, go read it,” and freaking out. I was skimming through it while getting ready for the shower. ”
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Schnapp, who has joined the cast of Stranger Things as Will Byers since its debut 10 years ago, joins Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven), Finn Wolfhard (Mike Wheeler), Caleb McLaughlin (Lucas Sinclair) and Gaten Matarazzo (Dustin Henderson) in praising the underlying message of the iconic drama.
“This show is essentially about friendship, connection, belonging, and embracing differences and making you feel like you’re part of something,” Schnapp explains. “It’s empowering to be proud to be different and proud to be who you are. I love that, and I think that’s why other people do it too.”
That special bond doesn’t just apply to the group on screen, but also to their personal lives.
“Of course, Millie is my best friend for life,” Schnapp exclaimed. “But they’re all really just family to me, and it shows on screen. I mean, thank God, we’re so close.”
Looking back on his start at age 11, Schnapp says there’s only one thing he tells himself. “I would say stay true to yourself.”
“Don’t let anyone dim the light that you have, just be present and take it all in, because you’re going to blink and stand on the carpet for the last season and say goodbye,” he added.
Steve Granitz/Film Magic
The final chapter of Stranger Things will be released in three parts. Creators the Duffer Brothers previously revealed that the film will feature a time jump to the fall of 1987.
The star-studded cast also includes Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Charlie Heaton, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, Sadie Sink and Maya Hawke.
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Stranger Things Season 5 will premiere on Netflix with the first episode on November 26th at 8pm ET, followed by the second episode on December 25th and the final episode on December 31st. Seasons 1-4 are currently streaming on Netflix.
