'Stranger Things' s5 Will Byers monologue filmed over two 12-hour days, says Noah Schnapp

Noah Schnapp has revealed that Will Byers’ monologue in Stranger Things Season 5 Episode 7, titled The Bridge, took two separate 12-hour days to film. The scene has become one of the most widely discussed moments of the show’s final season.

The episode features Will coming out to his friends, a storyline that had been developed gradually across earlier seasons.

While the final season received a mixed response overall, the monologue quickly became a focal point of discussion following the episode’s release.

Speaking to Variety, Schnapp explained that the filming process was far more demanding than it may appear on screen.

He said the production schedule was centred almost entirely on the monologue, with multiple takes recorded across long shooting days.

“Oh my God, it was endless,” Schnapp said. “It was like a 12-hour day of just that monologue. And we weren’t even done after the 12-hour day. We came back a week later to reshoot certain parts of the scene for another 12 hours.”

Schnapp said the extended filming time allowed him to explore different emotional approaches rather than committing to a single performance.

He noted that the scene contained more dialogue than any he had previously performed on the series, leading him to prepare months in advance.

He also credited fellow cast member Maya Hawke for offering practical advice on memorisation, explaining that she encouraged him to learn the lines early without attaching emotion, allowing reactions to develop naturally during filming.

Schnapp added that other cast members, including Winona Ryder and the younger actors, stayed present throughout the long shoot even when they were not required on camera. He said their support contributed to the atmosphere on set.

The actor said he had been aware that Will’s coming-out storyline was planned well before the episode was written, having discussed it repeatedly with creators Matt and Ross Duffer. When he finally read the completed scene, Schnapp said he felt no need to request changes.