Stranger Things’ Noah Schnapp grapples with Harry Potter mix-ups

Noah Schnapp is finding himself in an unusual spotlight, and it’s not all about Stranger Things.

After nearly a decade as Will Byers, the 21-year-old actor has been repeatedly mistaken for another iconic character, Harry Potter, leaving fans and Schnapp alike a bit bewildered.

He’s shared the funny encounters publicly, detailing how they happen when people approach him thinking he’s Daniel Radcliffe’s famous wizard.

From hilarious fan mix-ups to surprising reactions on set, here’s everything you need to know about Noah’s unexpected magical identity crisis.

A Case of Mistaken Magical Identity

Noah Schnapp has spent nearly a decade playing Will Byers on Stranger Things. But lately, fans have been confusing him with an entirely different franchise icon. The actor recently appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and dropped a hilarious bombshell.

People keep thinking he is Harry Potter. The mix-up happened three times in 2024 alone. The 21-year-old actor was completely caught off guard by the repeated cases of mistaken identity throughout the year.

Walking around solo seems to trigger the confusion more than being with his Stranger Things castmates. The actor shared how these awkward fan interactions typically unfold during his December 3 appearance.“They’ll come up to me and be like, I love your show,” Schnapp told Fallon.

Fans continue by gushing about how much they adore Harry Potter and love the character. That is when Schnapp has to break the news with his signature response. “Oh, wrong franchise,” he tells them.

The Franchises Actually Have Some Wild Parallels

Jimmy Fallon was quick to point out something interesting during the conversation. “There are some similarities” between Stranger Things and Harry Potter that might explain the ongoing mix-up, Jimmy said. Both shows feature young protagonists battling supernatural forces and impossibly dark entities.

Schnapp himself agreed with this observation and even highlighted specific character connections between the two franchises. He drew a direct line between Harry Potter and Will Byers that fans might not have considered before now.

“The Boy Who Lived, Zombie Boy,” Schnapp said. Harry Potter earned his nickname after surviving Voldemort’s killing curse as a baby. Will Byers got dubbed Zombie Boy after everyone thought he died in the Upside Down during the first season of the show.

The parallels run even deeper than just character nicknames and supernatural survival stories. Both franchises feature tight groups of young friends facing impossible odds together. They also share themes of chosen ones, hidden powers, and epic battles between good and evil forces throughout their respective storylines.

Will Byers Finally Gets His Hero Moment

The timing of these Harry Potter comparisons is actually pretty perfect, given what happens in Season 5. Will Byers has spent four seasons being the victim, the possessed character, and the sidekick. But Season 5 Volume 1 changes everything with a massive twist.

In Episode 4, Will reveals he has supernatural powers similar to Eleven’s telekinetic abilities. The moment comes during an intense battle when Demogorgons are attacking his friends. Will closes his eyes and taps into the hive mind to take complete control of the monsters surrounding them.

He seemingly neutralizes several Demogorgons during the attack. The scene ends with a nosebleed, a recognized sign of using supernatural powers in the show. The entire cast freaked out during the table read when they first discovered this shocking twist.

Millie Bobby Brown screamed with excitement and told Schnapp directly, “You’re one of me!” The revelation that Will can channel Vecna’s powers makes him crucial to the final battle. His connection to the Upside Down finally becomes an asset instead of a curse that has haunted him throughout the series.

Why This Season Means Everything To Schnapp

Playing Will Byers has been deeply personal for Noah Schnapp beyond just his career. The character’s journey of self-acceptance mirrored Schnapp’s own real-life experience.

Maya Hawke, who plays Robin, praised Schnapp’s emotional presence and how much he gave her to work with. Robin’s mentorship of Will became a personal responsibility for Hawke. Schnapp sent the Duffer Brothers a lengthy, emotional text after filming Will’s big power reveal scene, thanking them.

For Schnapp, seeing Will finally come into his own and embrace his full identity feels cathartic. The character is no longer just the kid who got kidnapped, but a hero. Will’s journey from victim to powerful warrior mirrors Schnapp’s own transformation from closeted to openly proud and living authentically.

What Comes Next For The Final Season

Will’s new powers set up his crucial role in the final battle against Vecna. With Eleven and Kali trapped in the Upside Down at the end of Episode 4, Will becomes even more essential. He may be the only one who can face Vecna directly, using the villain’s own powers against him.

The show has been building toward this moment since Season 1, when Will first got taken. Everything that happened to him over five seasons prepared him for this fight. His possession by the Mind Flayer and his connection to Vecna and his ability to sense the Upside Down all led here.

Whether or not people keep confusing Schnapp with Daniel Radcliffe hardly matters at this point. He has created an iconic character that will be remembered long after the show ends. Will Byers stands on his own as a hero who overcame trauma, accepted himself, and saved his friends using extraordinary powers.

TL;DR

• Noah Schnapp revealed fans mistook him for Harry Potter three times in 2024.
• Both Harry Potter and Will Byers have “Boy Who Lived” and “Zombie Boy” parallels.
• Stranger Things Season 5 Volume 1 reveals Will has supernatural powers similar to Eleven.
• Will can channel Vecna’s abilities by tapping into the hive mind connection.
• Season 5 Volume 2 drops on Christmas Day with the finale airing on New Year’s Eve.
• Will’s connection to the Upside Down positions him as crucial to defeating Vecna.

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This article was made with AI assistance and human editing.