Stranger Things Stars Use Digital De-Aging for Flashback Scenes

Los Angeles, CA — The beloved Netflix series “Stranger Things” is about to premiere its fifth season, which includes stunning visual effects such as digital de-aging. In flashback scenes, Noah Schnapp, who plays Will Byers, is digitally transformed to resemble his younger self.

Season 5 begins streaming on November 26 with a sequence showing Schnapp’s face on child actor Luke Kokotek, who portrays the 11-year-old Will trapped in the Upside Down. Will seeks shelter in Castle Byers while clutching a rifle and humming The Clash’s iconic song “Should I Stay Or Should I Go.” The visual effects were managed by Lola VFX, known for their realistic transformations.

This method of blending CGI with younger body doubles isn’t new; Millie Bobby Brown, who plays Eleven, also utilized it in her character’s flashback scenes in Season 4. Schnapp sought advice from Brown for the process. “I asked [Millie] for help, honestly,” he told Deadline. “It was fun to step into those director shoes. I had to think about how I act and how I did act.”

Brown, excited to see how Schnapp’s scenes would turn out, emphasized the importance of reflection in portraying their characters authentically. “It was interesting because it taught me a lot about what I did,” Brown said. “You have to find that sense of humility and leave any embarrassment at the door.”

Both actors took mentorship roles with their younger counterparts. Brown guided Martie Blair, who played younger Eleven in crucial moments revealing Henry’s transformation into Vecna. The supportive atmosphere on set helped the young actors feel more comfortable, with Brown describing her approach as encouraging: “I told her, ‘It’s okay. Just like, it’s fine.’”

The use of digital de-aging highlights the challenges and creative solutions in adapting long-running series where child actors grow up quickly. “Stranger Things” first aired in 2016, and since then, both the story and the actors have evolved significantly. As the fifth season approaches, fans are keen to see how these digital effects and storytelling techniques will be woven into the fabric of the show.

As anticipation builds, viewers are reminded of the magic of the series and the creative innovations that keep it fresh, even as time moves forward in both the storyline and in reality.