Stranger Things writers recently made a statement announcing some scripts, referred to as the Byler Script by fans, are fake. Bylers, the name for fans who desperately want Mike Wheeler and Will Byers to begin a relationship together, seemingly bought the scam hook, line, and sinker. Today, the writers of Stranger Things finally put the debate over the legitimacy of the scripts to rest.
What is the ‘Byler Script?’
Stranger Things Season 4 experienced several unintentional leaks and scams. Many believe the extensive wait between seasons 3 and 4 caused fans to dig harder for any information they could get their hands on. Combine that with a possible change in release date and merchandise with potential plot spoilers getting released early, and the entire marketing campaign of the latest season experienced quite a hiccup.
As the wait for Stranger Things Season 4 continued, fans grew increasingly adamant about the ‘ships of the show. The most vocal of shippers became the Bylers vs. Milevens, with angry words being exchanged on a near-constant basis on social media. Will and Mike failed to get together in season 4, which left that particular corner of the fandom incredibly disappointed.
One Tumblr user wrote, “My hope is gone. It’s a terrible feeling to know I can never expect anything good from a non-‘gay’ TV show again. My hope is gone, and I hate that. I hate them [the Duffer Brothers]. Strong words, perhaps, but true ones, all the same.”
However, it didn’t take long for someone on the internet to offer these fans a glimmer of hope. A person named Nick Runyeard, who runs the website 8Flix, offered fans script copies of the infamous “Byler van scene.” At $25 a pop, these supposedly authentic scripts were the types used in post-production for sound. It was implied these would give fans the confirmation they needed to know for sure the Duffers planned to make Byler canon before the series ended.
PSA: any “leaked” season 4 scripts or script pages are FAKE. Do not pay anyone for scripts as this is a SCAM.
— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) August 9, 2022
RELATED: Netflix Admits ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4 Was Cut Short By COVID and Rising Costs
‘Stranger Things’ writers confirm the ‘Byler Script’ is fake
The site, 8Flix, racked up over seven thousand dollars with the help of a GoFundMe, and fans paid the money in hopes of learning more about Mike and Will’s relationship. Fans excitedly waited for the release of the “Byler Script,” and at one point, the term landed in the top trending hashtags on Twitter. Eventually, snippets of the script popped up online, but it wasn’t long before other fans began to call foul on the document.
One Twitter user wrote, “The Stranger Things 8flix scripts, even ‘Dear Billy’, are NOT true official scripts. They are either teleplays, or he wrote them himself. He is a writer, after all. He knows how. His scripts are word for word what the actors say. They are not word for word in the REAL scripts.”
The debate raged on for a few days before the Stranger Things writers’ Twitter account announced that the scripts being sold were, in fact, fake.
“PSA: any ‘leaked’ season 4 scripts or script pages are FAKE. Do not pay anyone for scripts as this is a SCAM,” the tweet read.
What scenes do you want to read the most? We will post scenes here for free, once a week.
— stranger writers (@strangerwriters) August 9, 2022
‘Stranger Things’ writers offer up free versions of the scripts instead
While the “Byler Script” turned out to be a fake, the Stranger Things writers tweeted out another offer to dull the sting. They wrote, “What scenes do you want to read the most? We will post scenes here for free, once a week.”
It might not confirm Byler is canon, but it’s sure to be much easier on your wallet.
Stranger Things Seasons 1-4 are currently streaming on Netflix.
RELATED: The Duffer Brothers Explain Why ‘Stranger Things’ Will Never Kill Characters Like ‘Game of Thrones’
Maybe nobody could have predicted just how much of a phenomenon Stranger Things would become.
Created by the Duffer Brothers, the sci-fi horror series hit Netflix in the summer of 2016 and swiftly became an obsession, sweeping audiences up in its crashing waves of nostalgia.
Referencing and paying homage to a host of beloved movies from the 1980s, it’s perhaps fitting the show itself became one of the most adored shows of its own era.
Across three seasons, a wealth of fan theories, hopes and predictions have emerged online, including a fandom that wishes for romance between two of the central characters.
Let’s dive into the world of Stranger Things’ Byler…
The Stranger Things Byler fandom
Byler refers to the Stranger Things fandom who ship Will Byers and Mike Wheeler getting together.
The name takes the start of Will’s last name and the end of Mike’s last name and puts them together, making for a hashtag that has been fairly prominent on Twitter after the third season premiered.
Why? Well, in one episode the two are having a confrontation and Mike tells Will they were always going to get girlfriends and start growing up sooner or later. However, it’s when Mike tells Will “it’s not my fault you don’t like girls” that the fandom really began to pick up.
With season 4 approaching, there’s an opportunity to make Byler canon.
Stranger Things 4 | Volume 1 Final Trailer | Netflix
//i.ytimg.com/vi/iGPLnLt7t7A/hqdefault.jpg
‘He’s very interested’
Pop Buzz reports Mike actor Finn Wolfhard and David Harbour recently hinted Byler could become canon during a recent video by Netflix Latinoamérica.
They’re discussing fan theories with other cast members and address one that suggests sparks might fly between Eleven and Will.
However, David says: “If you’ve been watching the show you should know Will is not interested in El. He’s interested in someone else in the group.”
Finn added: “Yeah, you’ll see soon who he’s interested in,” to which David replied: “He’s very interested.”
Although this could refer to anybody in the group, it’s most likely Mike as his jealousy towards him and El has been on full display thus far. Then there’s the aforementioned moment between him and Mike that suggests he could be into guys.
Ultimately, the only way we’ll find out for sure is by tuning into season 4.
This content could not be loaded
Kit Connor, star of Netflix’s HEARTSTOPPER says he watched STRANGER THINGS “maybe three or four times.”
“I think [BYLER] is one of the best ships I’ve seen in a long time & I think it's almost ridiculous that they aren't canon” pic.twitter.com/QRpfdKIsVs
Byler is the pairing of Mike Wheeler and Will Byers from Stranger Things. Arguably the strongest relationship on the show, byler shows real, genuine love, and the idea of what a healthy relationship is like. Mike Wheeler, a boy in an age where it is shameful for men to show emotion, sheds a tear as he’s afraid of losing Will again.
by vsstrangerswift March 11, 2018
Kathy, and intellectual: BYLER IS RE
Viewer 2: Shut up Kathy thats all you’ve been saying for the past 4 days
Advertise here for $5/day
Get the Byler mug.
Advertise here for $5/day
Get the Byler mug.
Byler is the ship of Mike Wheeler and Will Byers from Stranger Things serie on Netflix.
The ship comes from their last names Byers and Wheeler that is Byler.
The thing is that Mike and Will look cute together, and yes, they’re boys but love is love and you can love whoever you’re into. I mean, Will can possibly be in love with Mike and then Mike can be in love with him, but no one knows.
Byler is a ship that transmits a lot of feelings and love. Just two boys that are in love it’s nothing bad, it’s actually really cute.
Byler is very good!, you have to ship them.
by Babyblue3 August 19, 2018
Get the Byler mug.Advertise here for $5/day
Byler is a ship from stranger things between mike wheeler and will Byers
Example 1 of byler being real: when mike and el say I love you to each other everyone else is shocked but will is just sad
Example 2: even though mike has a girlfriend who he’s “in love with” he said that meeting will was the best thing that ever happened to him
by Olliethefrogonaloginabog August 28, 2020
Get the Byler mug.Get the Byler mug.