A shocking new Stranger Things theory suggests that the real Will Byers is still trapped in the Upside Down.

Will Byers has been one of the main characters in Stranger Things since the very beginning. In the first episode, he was taken to the Upside Down, setting off the chain of events that kicked off the entire series. He was eventually rescued by his mother, Joyce Byers and Chief Jim Hopper.

But now some fans think that the Will Byers who was rescued might be a clone of the real one.

Will Byers is Still Trapped in the Upside Down

Recently, Netflix released the official teaser for Stranger Things 5. One scene from the promo showed a humanoid-like figure trapped in the Upside Down. Some users have theorized that the figure is actually Will Byers.

A fan on Reddit claimed that the original Will may not have left the Upside Down at all. The Will, who was rescued in season 1, is likely a sleeper agent who took his place and the original Will remains trapped in the alternate dimension.

If true, that means Joyce Byers and the rest of his friends will have to rescue Will Byers again. This twist would beautifully mirror season 1’s storyline. Interestingly, the Duffer Brothers have already revealed that the final season will carry strong season 1 vibes.

However, Will Byers being a sleeper agent would require a lot of explanation. Since it is the final season, we don’t think it will have much time to explain this twist. Also, it will undermine the efforts of Joyce Byers in season 1.

Is Will Byers Hiding a Dark Secret?

There have been many theories that Will Byers is hiding a dark secret. While some fans believe that he might become a villain in Stranger Things 5, others think he will get superpowers. Many have also pointed out striking similarities between Vecna and Will Byers, hinting at a deeper connection.

If the real Will Byers is still in the Upside Down, this would completely shift the direction of the final season.

While some viewers agreed that the theory is interesting, others argued that it is a bit of a stretch. One Redditor commented,

If true, it honestly wouldn‘t change my feelings about the Will they did save. He seems to think he‘s Will, so sleeper agent or not I still want the best for him because he didn‘t ask for this.

But this other Will isn‘t to blame for that, and is such a convincing copy of the original that he doesn‘t even know he‘s not the real one. There‘s no saving the old Will, but the new one still can be saved. And given what little we‘ve been shown so far, he is going to need saving next season.

Another user humorously commented;