‘Stranger Things’ Stars Noah Schnapp and Jamie Campbell Bower Joke About Duffer Brothers’ Texting Habits
Noah Schnapp and Jamie Campbell Bower humorously remarked that ‘Stranger Things’ creators Matt and Ross Duffer weren’t always prompt in responding to their text messages during the production of the show’s final season.
These comments surfaced during Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’ Emmys FYSEE event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery, as reported by Entertainment Weekly, which covered the panel.
The event gathered cast and crew to reflect on the beloved series as it concluded its final season. Schnapp, who portrayed Will Byers, discussed how his relationship with the Duffer brothers evolved over the years as he transitioned from a child actor to an adult.
He shared that initially, he felt apprehensive about sharing ideas, but grew more confident in contributing to the character’s narrative. He stated, “Starting off as a kid, you kind of walk in all nervous and scared and think your opinion is not valued. And as you get older, you’re like, ‘No, I’ve been with this character for so many years, and I also have an opinion that matters.’ And I think coming into this [final] season I felt confident in that.”
Schnapp then joked about frequently pitching ideas to the Duffer brothers via text, noting that many of his messages went unanswered. He quipped, “I mean, the Duffers can speak to how many texts I’ve sent them that went unanswered of ideas and pitches for this and that, and videos of ‘should it go this way or this way?’”
As the conversation progressed, executive producer Shawn Levy laughed, mentioning that the creators did read the messages, while Schnapp expressed hope that they did. Ross Duffer quickly countered the notion that he ignored messages, asserting, “They didn’t go unanswered, what are you talking about?” Schnapp humorously claimed he could prove otherwise, adding that he had “receipts.”
Actor David Harbour also chimed in on the lighthearted banter, suggesting that Schnapp should enable read receipts for future texts to confirm when they were seen.
Jamie Campbell Bower, who portrays Vecna in the series, echoed a similar sentiment during the panel. He mentioned that he too sent numerous messages to the Duffer brothers while working on his character but often did not receive immediate responses. He remarked, “Again, like Noah, sent a load of text messages that didn’t get answered.”
Bower further noted that despite the delayed replies, the creators maintained an open dialogue and revisited his ideas during discussions on set. He characterized their working style as collaborative, even if communication sometimes had its lags.
Schnapp also revealed that one of his suggestions made it into the final season. He contributed to a pivotal emotional scene between Will Byers and Mike Wheeler, which provided closure to Will’s storyline. He expressed that he felt strongly about this moment and presented it to the creators, who later incorporated it into the script.
He stated, “I knew people would riot if there wasn’t a little more with that.”
The panel also featured other cast members, including Natalia Dyer and David Harbour, who reflected on their long journey with the series. Dyer discussed the emotional challenge of concluding a show they had dedicated nearly a decade to, describing the experience as a significant closure for their characters’ arcs.
‘Stranger Things’ has recently wrapped up its final season on Netflix, solidifying its status as one of the platform’s most beloved original series. The FYSEE event served as a final tribute to the cast and crew’s decade-long efforts, as well as a reflection on the collaborative journey behind the show.
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