“Stranger Things” stars Noah Schnapp and Jamie Campbell Bower say Duffer brothers didn't respond to their texts: 'I can pull up the receipts!'

Leigh BlickleyFri, May 22, 2026 at 5:49 PM UTC

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(L-R) Matt Duffer, Ross Duffer, David Harbour, Natalia Dyer, Jamie Campbell Bower, Noah Schnapp and Shawn Levy attend Netflix's 'Stranger Things' Emmys FYSEE Event
Credit: Emma McIntyre/GettyKey Points -

Noah Schnapp and Jamie Campbell Bower claim the Duffer brothers weren't great at answering their texts on set.

The creators of Stranger Things attended a FYC panel with some of the cast and crew on Thursday.

Ross Duffer says they didn't leave any texts unanswered, but Schnapp has "receipts."

When working with the Duffer brothers, it's best to talk to them face-to-face.

Reportedly, the creators of Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, are very open to hearing actors' ideas about their characters and plot lines — they just may never get a response.

During Netflix's Stranger Things Emmys FYSEE Event at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on Thursday, both Noah Schnapp and Jamie Campbell Bower shared stories about working with the Duffers on the fifth and final season of Stranger Things, which streamed at the end of last year.

Schnapp, 21, who played Will Byers on the hit series for a decade, said that he felt very seen by Matt and Ross on set.

"Starting off as a kid, you kind of walk in all nervous and scared and think your opinion is not valued," he said at the event, which Entertainment Weekly attended. "And as you get older, you're like, 'No, I've been with this character for so many years, and I also have an opinion that matters.' And I think coming into this [final] season I felt confident in that."

He added, "I mean, the Duffers can speak to how many texts I've sent them that went unanswered of ideas and pitches for this and that, and videos of 'should it go this way or this way?'"

As the Duffers laughed, executive producer and director Shawn Levy chimed in to say, "But they read every one," with Schapp insisting, "I hope they read it!"

Ross Duffer then got his two cents in: "They didn't go unanswered, what are you talking about?"

"I can pull up the receipts," Schapp stated.

Costar David Harbour, who played Chief Hopper on the show, gave Schnapp some advice: "Leave the read receipt on next time. Leave the read receipt on!"

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Schnapp went on to say that the Duffer brothers did truly value his opinions and, in fact, it was his idea to include the poignant tower scene as closure between Will and Mike Wheeler (Finn Wolfhard) in season 5, episode 8.

"I knew people would riot if there wasn't a little more with that," Schnapp said of the conversation between friends about Will's coming out, which wasn't originally in the script. "So yeah, I just let them know and to have them then go in and write it and change it and take that feedback, it's so special and speaks to how collaborative they are as directors and such great listeners and value their actors."

Later in the panel, Bower, 37 — a.k.a Henry Creel a.k.a Mr. Whatsit a.k.a. Vecna — noted that his texts to the Duffer brothers also went unanswered when he was "grappling" with how to lie to children on screen.

"Again, like Noah, sent a load of text messages that didn't get answered," he said, laughing. "But the boys are very sweet because they just let me kind of ramble and then we'd come back to it later."

Netflix's 'Stranger Things' Emmys FYSEE Event held at Hollywood Forever Cemetery on May 21, 2026
Credit: Gilbert Flores/Variety via Getty

Stranger Things recently wrapped up its thrilling run after premiering to fan and critical acclaim in 2026. The Duffers were joined by cast members Schnapp, Bower, Harbour, and Natalia Dyer, as well as crewmates Levy, Barrie Gower, Craig Henighan, Sarah Hindsgaul, Hiro Koda, and Michael Maher Jr., at the FYC event to promote the show ahead of award season.

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They discussed their 10-year journey with the series and having proper closure for the story's beloved characters.

“There's so much pressure on everybody, but us as actors and all the care that we have as well for wrapping up these storylines and these emotional moments," Dyer, 31, who played Nancy Wheeler, said. "[It’s been] 10 years for us, of living with these characters and sending them off on their journey. So having that sort of quiet moment in all of the chaos [with on-and-off screen love Charlie Heaton] was such a gift and an opportunity."

Stranger Things is streaming on Netflix.

on Entertainment Weekly

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