There is no doubt that Will Byers has been the most underappreciated character in Stranger Things. Fans know very little about the character, other than the fact that he has been the most vulnerable to Vecna’s spell and his monsters since day one. Even within the original group of four, Will has been the underdog among underdogs. This has already planted seeds of doubt in fans' hearts regarding what is in store for the character in the final showdown and whether he will finally get his well-deserved happy ending.

Well, it seems, maybe not. Recently, some set photos from the final season of Stranger Things surfaced on X. And they have only heightened fans' fears for Will's future. Every picture painted a sense of distance between Will and the rest of the Hawkins gang. It almost became palpable that he was drifting away from his people, not to say that he had not already to a great extent.

It was hinted towards the end of Season 4 that Will was never completely disconnected from Vecna. He was seen having the same goosebumps he gets when he senses Vecna’s presence. This connection also suggests that he will once again face the horrors of the Upside Down, especially considering that he has been the longest survivor in the parallel world and knows it like the back of his hand.

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Fans, however, are not ready for it. They have already smelled trouble for the character, played by Noah Schnapp, and are bracing for the worst in Season 5.

Noah Schnapp, in a 2023 interview with Forbes, stated, “The story started with Will, and it’ll end with Will”. This statement sparked many theories, including the one that suggests that Stranger Things could take a Harry Potter-esque approach, possibly making Will a Horcrux. This means, killing Will might be the only way to defeat Vecna. Fans also speculate that Will could sacrifice himself for his friends, which was hinted in the first episode when he put himself in harm's way to aid the party in their Dungeons and Dragons game.

Upon seeing the new set photos, fans were even more on edge about the possibility of Will Byers meeting his end in the final season. And some of them were already feeling the emotional tug at the thought of it. 

Despite being the perpetual underdog in Stranger Things, Will Byers had really won over fans because they were just tired of seeing the poor guy suffer. But thanks to some controversies around Noah Schnapp and his outspoken political views, the love for the character has taken a bit of a hit. It makes sense why the show's creators might now think about writing him out, especially considering how most fans feel about it.

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What do you think about the new Stranger Things set photos? Let us know your thoughts about Will Byers' future in the show in the comments below!