Photo Credit: Netflix
Will Byers may have struggled to find a partner throughout the course of Stranger Things, but he could very well initiate his first relationship in the upcoming spin-off, Tales from ‘85. In a recent interview, Eric Robles, the creator of the 10-episode animated series, hinted at a romantic arc for the Hawkins resident, which would involve Will forming a relationship with a brand new character, Nikki Baxter.
Eric Robles teases new relationship for Will in Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85
The Fanboy and Chum Chum creator revealed that in the Stranger Things animated spin-off, Will Byers (voiced by Ben Plessala) will find a new friend in the form of Nikki Baxter (voiced by Odessa A’zion). While he did not explicitly confirm their romantic inclination towards one another, he did compare their relationship to that of Mike and El, as well as Lucas and Max.
“When we were talking about what [Nikki] could bring to the table, we realized that Will really has gone through a lot, but he hasn’t got anybody to really talk to, right? Mike is caught up in the relationship with El right now. Lucas and Max are dealing with their own drama at the same time, and Dustin’s out for the next big adventure, right?” Eric Robles told GamesRadar+.
The seasoned producer added, “There just wasn’t somebody that Will could really connect to in that way. So we liked the idea of bringing somebody in who’s never gonna judge [him], and just look at him like, ‘Zombie Boy is an awesome nickname. Are you kidding me? Own that, dude’. That idea of somebody giving him that strength was really great and allowed us to give him someone to talk to and grow from.”
Moreover, Eric Robles shared how Nikki is “the catalyst” who helps Will find his voice to battle Vecna in the later seasons of the original show. “He really evolved, and we’re just hoping that a little bit of that came about because Nikki was in his life,” he stated.
Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85, which takes place between the events of Season 2 and 3, will mark Nikki Baxter’s debut in the show’s continuity. Joining in as a fresh student, she will strike a close friendship with Will after saving him from a school bully.
Spanning 10 episodes, the Stranger Things spin-off is on track to hit Netflix on April 23, 2026.
Originally reported by Apoorv Rastogi on ComingSoon.net.
