Entertainment
“I Was Just Pushing It Away”
Summary
- Collider’s Steve Weintraub chats with Millie Bobby Brown and Noah Schnapp for Stranger Things Season 5.
- The two stars share what it was like first reading the series finale with the whole cast and how it felt to film their final scenes.
- They also discuss social media, bizarre trends, and what fans can expect from the next Enola Holmes movie.
Almost a decade ago, the young ensemble cast of Netflix’s Stranger Things introduced us to the small-town world of Hawkins, Indiana. Now, the Upside Down has finally broken through the barrier, as Vecna’s (Jamie Campbell Bower) sinister plans unfold. At the center of it all remain Will Byers and Eleven, played by Noah Schnapp and Millie Bobby Brown, who sat down with Collider’s Steve Weintraub to discuss the emotional lead-up to the culmination of all five seasons.
As Vecna’s evil forces begin to consume the real world, our heroes will need all the help they can get. Season 5 also sees the return of Winona Ryder, David Harbour, Finn Wolfhard, Gaten Matarazzo, Caleb McLaughlin, Sadie Sink, Joe Keery, Natalia Dyer, Maya Hawke, and Charlie Heaton.
In this interview, the duo share the moment this finale truly hit them, with all these years and this epic story from the Duffer Brothers finally coming to its conclusion. Brown and Schnapp also chat about avoiding social media, trends they don’t mind missing out on, and an exciting tease for fans of Netflix’s Enola Holmes franchise. You can watch the full conversation in the video above or read the transcript below.
Reading the ‘Stranger Things’ Finale Was Emotional for Everyone
Brown and Schnapp share what it was like learning how the series comes to an end.
COLLIDER: I love animals, and I know that you rescue a lot of animals. I really mean this: thank you. I love it. I really do. Is there a way for people to help you if they want to help with your supporting of the rescue animals?
MILLIE BOBBY BROWN: All I can ask is to donate and to adopt. Also, if it’s not from my rescue, just from rescues all over the country. And adopt from high-kill shelters if possible. Spread awareness, for sure. But my rescue is JoeysFriends.com. We’re small, but we more rehabilitate dogs and help them get to a place where they’re more confident in getting adopted. That’s our mission.
If Will and Eleven could have pets, what do you think they would have?
SCHNAPP: Well, Will had a pet.
BROWN: He did. He had a dog.
SCHNAPP: He was forgotten, but there was a little golden retriever, I think.
BROWN: There was a dog. There was a dog, for sure. I don’t know if Eleven would be able to take care of a dog. I just think she’s got a lot going on in her life. I feel like maybe she’d be able to take care of, like, a hamster.
I’m so curious about the where and when you guys read the series finale script and what that experience was like for both of you. This has been a huge chapter of your life, and to read what’s ultimately the final episode…
SCHNAPP: It was a really special experience because it was the first table read where we went into it without anyone having read it in advance. We all sat there and turned the pages together, learning it as we sat next to each other. So, it was just a really emotional experience.
BROWN: Very emotional. It was a cold read.
Did anyone skip ahead? Did you catch anyone going to the end?
BROWN: No!
SCHNAPP: I tried a few times, but I was like, “No.”
BROWN: It didn’t make sense. It didn’t feel right.
SCHNAPP: Yeah, this is too important.
What was it like when it was all said and done? What was your reaction like? What did you feel emotionally?
SCHNAPP: It felt so real.
BROWN: It was emotional. It’s so beautifully written. I’m so excited for people to see it.
I can’t wait.
“I don’t know what people are talking about half of the time.”
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I want to ask you a few other types of questions because you’ve talked about Stranger Things all day. What’s been the most unusual fan interaction that you’ve had?
BROWN: I get a lot of people approaching me in a bathroom because it’s easy. Because if I’m in a restaurant and then I go pee, people do follow me to the bathroom a lot, you know? So it’s always usually just me coming out of the stall, trying to rush to the exit, which is usually just me trying to avoid any kind of weird interaction. Any time it’s in a bathroom, I’m like, “No, we’re not going to take a selfie in a bathroom.”
SCHNAPP: For me, it’s like the moms. Sometimes the moms are more excited than the kids.
BROWN: But then they’re pushing the kid.
SCHNAPP: They’re pushing the kid and the kid’s like, “Mmm…” and the mom’s like, “Hello!”
BROWN: And you’re like, “Have you even seen Stranger Things?” And the five-year-old is like, “No.” And the dad’s like, “Yes, you have!” And you’re like, “No, you haven’t.” [Laughs]
SCHNAPP: That kid does not give a shit.
BROWN: No. That kid does not know who we are. The kid just wants to be like, “6-7.”
What are your thoughts on the 6-7 thing?
BROWN: Okay, let me just say something.
SCHNAPP: What are Millie’s thoughts on 6-7?
BROWN: I don’t actually have social media, so I didn’t know what this was, but I have a big friend group, and we were all at Universal, and my friend was like, “Let’s go up to people and say ‘6-7.’” And I was like, “What are you talking about?” And they were like, “It’s just a funny thing.” And I was like, “I don’t understand.” He did it for, like, two hours, running up to people, and he was like, “6-7!” And these kids were like, “6-7!” They thought it was hilarious, so then I’m like, “I’m going to try it. I don’t know the trend, but I’m going to go up to someone and say it.” I guess I chose the wrong person because this person had no idea what I was doing. It was so mortifying, and I had to walk back to my group, and no one was laughing. It was really embarrassing. So, that’s the last time I’m going to say 6-7 to anyone.
Did you know what it was?
SCHAPP: I still don’t know what it is. What does it mean?
I don’t know what it is, but it’s very popular online.
BROWN: I now feel kind of old in my generation.
SCHNAPP: Oh, absolutely.
BROWN: Because of 6-7.
SCHNAPP: And all the brain-rot terms.
BROWN: How do I feel old? How? Do you know what I mean? Like, how do I not know that? It’s just very, very upsetting.
The co-stars discuss challenging takes throughout their careers and how they use the internet mindfully.
Also, like you mentioned, you’re not on social media.
BROWN: Yes. If you’re not on social media, you might as well not be a part of society, because clearly, I have no idea what is happening. All your news and everything is from that, so all the trends and things are on there. So I don’t know what people are talking about half of the time. It’s a real way to segue into society. If you want to be a socialite, get on that.
I have quit a lot of social media and try to be offline, and it is much healthier.
BROWN: We are the same way.
It’s brain rot as you scroll through your phone. By the way, it’s cool if you’re at the airport and killing 30 minutes, because then I’ll scroll, but otherwise it’s really not healthy.
BROWN: It’s not.
SCHNAPP: Absolutely.
Also, I’ll say this to everyone watching: your algorithm is being controlled by people. It’s not random.
BROWN: Totally.
Do you have a favorite movie quote?
BROWN: I’m going to say it. Star Wars: “I love you.” “I know.”
The Empire Strikes Back.
BROWN: I just love that. The other day, I said it to Jake [Bongiovi]. He was like, “I love you,” and I was like, “I know.” And he was like, “What are you, Hans Solo?” And I was like, “Yeah.” I don’t know. I just love that. I love that line. It’s so cute. Actually, I might get that as a tattoo.
SCHNAPP: That’s cool.
BROWN: It’s pretty cool. Anyway, I just made that decision up in my head.
‘Stranger Things’ Season 5 Was a “Grueling,” Year-Long Production
Brown also teases what fans can expect from the next Enola Holmes.
So what was it actually like in those last few days of filming for both of you, when you know this is the closing of that chapter? Was it, like, five days until the end that you started really thinking about it? At what point did it enter your brain, like, “I need to cherish and mentally snapshot everything we’re doing right now?”
SCHNAPP: Well, we filmed over the calendar year. I would say it definitely was grueling and long, but once Thanksgiving had passed, I was like, “Oh, okay.” We came back from Thanksgiving, and I was like, “This is ending. This is over.” And then those last few weeks were just trying to be as present as possible and not let it go. Then the last day, of course, is just unlike anything I’ve ever experienced in my life.
BROWN: Yeah, I would say the night before my wrap, I was like, “Oh my God, it’s happening.” I think I was just kind of pushing it away so I didn’t have to deal with it.
I’ve talked to you about Enola Holmes a number of times. I’m really looking forward to the third, and you’ve filmed in Malta, which is a country I love. What can you tease about it, about Malta, the film, all that?
BROWN: I’m really, really excited for people to see it. I think it’s a very different Enola Holmes that you’re going to be able to see. You asked for romance, so we’ll give you romance.
Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 premieres on Netflix on November 26.
- Release Date
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2016 – 2025-00-00
- Network
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Netflix
- Directors
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Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, Andrew Stanton, Frank Darabont, Nimród Antal, Uta Briesewitz
- Writers
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Kate Trefry, Jessie Nickson-Lopez, Jessica Mecklenburg, Alison Tatlock
