“Stranger Things” has de-aged Noah Schnapp (Will Byers) and Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven/Jane Hopper) for flashbacks, but that’s not the case for Winona Ryder’s character, Joyce Byers.
In episode 4 of “Stranger Things” season 5, a flashback shows teenage Joyce. The actress that plays her resembles Ryder so much that some viewers thought it was special effects.
“Did anyone else notice they deepfaked young Winona Ryder in the 1959 Max flashback?” one fan wrote via Reddit. “Maybe I’m wrong but it looked like ‘The Heathers’ era Winona. Thought it was pretty cool!”
Another X user admitted that they “thought they just put Winona’s de-aged face on an actress.”
Despite the fan theories, no de-aging was involved in the flashback scene, just great casting. The up and-coming-actress Birdy played teenage Joyce.
“Not AI winona,” Birdy wrote via Instagram alongside a still from the Netflix show.
“I genuinely thought they de-aged Winona somehow!! you were great – hope we get to see you more,” one viewer commented.
“Bruhhh you two are identical I literally thought it was AI , to a point where when I was watching I was like ‘omg that ai Winona is super realistic,’” another Instagram user quipped.
“She is EXACTLY like young Winona HOOOOWWWW,” a third fan gushed.
READ MORE: ‘Stranger Things’ fans point out ‘insane’ continuity errors in season 5
Audiences are very familiar with Ryder’s youthful appearance, as she starred in iconic films including “Beetlejuice,” “Heathers,” and “Edward Scissorhands” as a teenager.
“It’s giving Winona in Heathers,” one Instagram user said of Birdy in “Stranger Things.”
Birdy previously appeared on a season 13 episode of “Chicago Fire” that aired earlier this year. She also models for agencies including Select Model Management and Supreme Management New York.
Part 1 of “Stranger Things” season 5 premiered on Netflix on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Parts 2 and 3 will be released on Dec. 25 and Dec. 31, respectively.
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‘ Some details of this article were extracted from the following source www.nj.com ’
