Fans have long been keen to see Will Byers and Mike Wheeler – known as ‘Byler’ – become a couple. (Netflix)
Fans have long been keen to see Will Byers and Mike Wheeler – known as ‘Byler’ – become a couple. (Netflix)
Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard has seemingly poured cold water on fan hopes for a romance between his character Mike Wheeler and his best friend Will Byers.
For years, fans of the Netflix sci-fi juggernaut have shared their feeling that the relationship between Mike and Will, played by Noah Schnapp, is more than platonic – so much so that the pair have their own portmanteau ‘ship’ name, ‘Byler’.
A large subsection of the Stranger Things fandom are hopeful that in the fifth and final season of the show – the first four episodes of which are released on Netflix on 26 November in the US – Byler will become canon.
The fandom’s fervour for the pairing reached fever pitch in season four, released back in 2022, where it became clear that Will is gay and has feelings for Mike. Speaking with Variety at the time, Schnapp confirmed as much, stating that it was “100 per cent clear that [Will] is gay and he does love Mike”.
However, speaking with Attitude magazine recently, 22-year-old actor Wolfhard appeared to play down the fan theory, suggesting that it “wouldn’t feel that earned” if Will and Mike were to get together in season five.
Will Byers was confirmed as gay in Stranger Things season four. (Netflix)
“The shipping thing, that’s always, I think, something with fans of the show,” he told the publication, adding: “That’s something in the show that I feel like if it did happen, it wouldn’t feel that earned.”
“What’s so great about the show is that people are able to sort of feed themselves and be accepted for who they are,” he said, but caveated that he doesn’t particularly immerse himself in the world of Stranger Things fan fiction.
“I don’t really look as much on the internet about stuff,” he said.
Some Byler fans might be a little disappointed to hear that the romance might not come to fruition, but there’s still plenty of room for hope. In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Schnapp, 21, said that he hopes season five will be “touching and empowering” for the LGBTQ+ community.
“I’ve been holding it in for so long, so I’ve been looking forward to the day this all drops. It’s so touching and empowering,” he said of his anticipation for fan reactions to the season.
“So getting to inspire a lot of people, and maybe even in the queer community for people to feel empowered to be themselves, I just can’t wait to see how it touches people, and if it does.”
Back in 2023, Stranger Things co-showrunner Ross Duffer confirmed that Will would “really take centre stage” in season five.
“This emotional arc for him is what we feel is going to hopefully tie the whole series together. Will is used to being the young one, the introverted one, the one that’s being protected. So part of his journey, it’s not just sexuality — it’s Will coming into his own as a young man,” he said.
Noah Schnapp came out as gay himself in early 2023, writing in a TikTok caption that he is “more similar to Will than I thought”.
When is Stranger Things season five released?
Stranger Things season five will be released in three volumes between November and January.
The first four episodes will be released on 26 November in the US (5pm PST) and on 27 November in the UK (1am GMT).
Episodes five, six and seven will be released on Christmas Day in the US, and Boxing Day, 26 December, in the UK.
The finale will air on New Year’s Eve in the US and New Year’s Day in the UK.
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