At a Glance
- Noah Schnapp missed Finn Wolfhard’s Jan. 17 SNL monologue and episode
- Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo surprised the audience with on-stage cameo
- Schnapp was in Milan attending Ralph Lauren’s Fall/Winter 2026 fashion show
- Why it matters: The absence fuels curiosity about the Stranger Things cast dynamic as they transition into adult roles
Finn Wolfhard took center stage on Saturday Night Live Jan. 17, celebrating his debut as host with a heartfelt monologue that reunited him with two of his Stranger Things co-stars. Caleb McLaughlin and Gaten Matarazzo burst onto the Studio 8H stage, igniting cheers from the live audience and millions watching at home. Yet eagle-eyed viewers quickly noticed one core member of the young ensemble was missing: Noah Schnapp.
While Wolfhard, McLaughlin, and Matarazzo basked in the nostalgia of their shared childhood stardom, Schnapp was roughly 4,000 miles away in Milan, Italy. The 21-year-old actor was photographed front row at Ralph Lauren’s Men’s Fall/Winter 2026 show during Milan Fashion Week on Friday, Jan. 16-less than 24 hours before Wolfhard’s SNL taping in New York City. Representatives for both Schnapp and for SNL did not return requests for comment from News Of Los Angeles.
On-Stage Reunion
Wolfhard, 23, opened his monologue by acknowledging the inevitable shift in public perception now that he and his castmates have aged out of their early roles. “So … meet the new me. The man me. Because I’m not a kid anymore,” he declared, before McLaughlin, 24, and Matarazzo, 23, stormed the stage in mock protest.
“And neither are we!” McLaughlin exclaimed, wrapping his arms around Wolfhard. “We’re not child stars, we’re former child stars.”
Matarazzo added, “And anytime you read ‘Former Child Star’ in a headline, it can only mean good things.”
The trio traded playful jabs about growing up under the spotlight, with McLaughlin joking that audiences took to social media to comment on their “changing faces and bodies.” Wolfhard closed the bit by pulling his friends close and saying, “I just wanted to say, even though we are now men, you’ll always be my boys.”
Fashion-Week Calendar Conflict
Schnapp’s fashion-week obligations placed him overseas at the same time NBC rehearsed and taped the late-night staple. Photographers captured the actor-who portrays the introspective Will Byers on the Netflix series-arriving at the Ralph Lauren show in a tailored charcoal suit. The event drew A-list attendees, but Schnapp’s appearance there meant he forfeited any chance of popping into 30 Rock for a surprise cameo.
According to News Of Los Angeles, other Stranger Things alumni still found room in their schedules to support Wolfhard. Natalia Dyer, Charlie Heaton, and Joe Keery-who play older siblings and friends in the show’s universe-were all spotted entering the SNL afterparty following the live broadcast. Their presence underscored the camaraderie among the cast, even as Schnapp’s absence created a conversational sideshow online.
Off-Camera Bond
Beyond the jokes on stage, Wolfhard has long described his relationship with his co-stars as familial rather than merely collegial. In a February 2023 interview with GQ, he explained that while the actors aren’t in constant contact, they share a bond that endures time zones and busy calendars.
“We’re not on everyday-text vibes in any way … because … it’s like, do you text your cousins every day?” he said. “Probably not. They’re our family. We’ll talk on each other’s birthdays. We’ll talk once in a while. But in the same way that family works, if I ever needed anything, they’re there.”
That sentiment resonated during the SNL broadcast when Wolfhard thanked viewers who “watched us grow up on the show,” a nod to the series’ multiyear run that began when most of the cast was barely in their teens.
Social Media Frenzy
Within minutes of the monologue airing, hashtags referencing both the reunion and Schnapp’s absence trended on X (formerly Twitter). Fan edits juxtaposed photos of Schnapp in Milan with screenshots of the trio hugging on stage. Some speculated scheduling conflicts, while others wondered whether personal dynamics played a role. Yet no evidence beyond geography confirms any rift; Schnapp simply had a prior professional commitment that kept him abroad.
The moment highlights the microscope placed on young actors who come of age in the public eye. Every social media post, red-carpet appearance, or missed cameo fuels narratives about behind-the-scenes relationships. For Wolfhard, McLaughlin, and Matarazzo, the SNL sketch offered a chance to reclaim their story, joking about the transition from child stars to working adults.
What’s Next
Production on the fifth and final season of Stranger Things remains ongoing, with Netflix yet to announce a premiere date. The entire core cast, including Schnapp, is expected to return to wrap up the supernatural saga that turned them into household names. Until then, individual projects and public appearances will continue to draw scrutiny from fans eager for any hint of the group’s off-screen chemistry.
For now, Schnapp can add Milan Fashion Week to his growing résumé of fashion-world appearances, while Wolfhard can count his SNL gig as another milestone in an expanding career that includes directing and music. Whether they share the screen again soon or simply catch up over text like “cousins,” the bonds formed in the Upside Down appear to extend well beyond Hawkins, Indiana-even if they can’t always align their calendars for a late-night sketch show.
