Fake Will Byers body

Fake Will Byers body
Type	Fake body
Maker	Hawkins National Laboratory

Hawkins National Laboratory produced a fake body that resembled Will Byers to cover up his kidnapping by the Demogorgon.

History

1983

Will Byers disappeared as a direct consequence of an experiment which took place at Hawkins National Laboratory. In the experiment, a Demogorgon from another dimension entered Hawkins, Indiana, taking Will back to its home dimension.

The laboratory sought to cover up the truth and prevent further investigation into the mystery. They planted the fake body in the local quarry and instructed state trooper David O'Bannon to find it. The coroners who carried on the autopsy were also hired by the laboratory, replacing the morgue's usual coroner.

After a confrontation with David O'Bannon, Chief Jim Hopper suspected that the body was fake. He later broke into the morgue, cutting open the body with a knife. He discovered cotton stuffing inside, proving his suspicions.

Behind the scenes

Noah BTS

The fake body was so realistic that the Duffer Brothers used it to prank Noah Schnapp's mother. They showed it to her in a dark closet. However, according to the Duffer brothers, after Mrs. Schnapp got over her initial shock "she loved it." Soon, she "was taking pictures with her childs fake corpse and texting the photos to all her friends."

Will's fake body looked so realistic that the Duffer Brothers used it again in season 2. In some of the camera shots in which Hopper is carrying an unconscious Will through the lab, David Harbour was actually carrying the fake body. In the scene where Joyce, Jonathan, and Nancy are trying to drive the Mind Flayer from Will, Nancy burned Will with a hot iron to stop him from choking his mother Joyce. A real fire poker was used to film the scene, with the fake body being substituted for Noah Schnapp.