<\/p>\n
\u201cStranger Things\u201d has de-aged Noah Schnapp (Will Byers) and Millie Bobby Brown (Eleven\/Jane Hopper) for flashbacks, but that\u2019s not the case for Winona Ryder\u2019s character, Joyce Byers. <\/p>\n
In episode 4 of \u201cStranger Things\u201d <\/a>season 5, a flashback shows teenage Joyce. The actress that plays her resembles Ryder so much that some viewers thought it was special effects.<\/p>\n \u201cDid anyone else notice they deepfaked young Winona Ryder in the 1959 Max flashback?\u201d one fan wrote via Reddit<\/a>. \u201cMaybe I\u2019m wrong but it looked like \u2018The Heathers\u2019 era Winona. Thought it was pretty cool!\u201d<\/p>\n Another X user admitted that they \u201cthought they just put Winona\u2019s de-aged face on an actress.\u201d <\/p>\n 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. <\/p>\n \u201cNot AI winona,\u201d Birdy wrote via Instagram<\/a> alongside a still from the Netflix show. <\/p>\n \u201cI genuinely thought they de-aged Winona somehow!! you were great – hope we get to see you more,\u201d one viewer commented.<\/p>\n \u201cBruhhh you two are identical I literally thought it was AI , to a point where when I was watching I was like \u2018omg that ai Winona is super realistic,\u2019\u201d another Instagram user quipped.<\/p>\n \u201cShe is EXACTLY like young Winona HOOOOWWWW,\u201d a third fan gushed.<\/p>\n READ MORE: <\/b>\u2018Stranger Things\u2019 fans point out \u2018insane\u2019 continuity errors in season 5<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n Audiences are very familiar with Ryder\u2019s youthful appearance, as she starred in iconic films including \u201cBeetlejuice,\u201d \u201cHeathers,\u201d and \u201cEdward Scissorhands\u201d as a teenager. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s giving Winona in Heathers,\u201d one Instagram user said of Birdy in \u201cStranger Things.\u201d <\/p>\n Birdy previously appeared on a season 13 episode of \u201cChicago Fire\u201d that aired earlier this year. She also models for agencies including Select Model Management and Supreme Management New York.<\/p>\n Part 1 of \u201cStranger Things\u201d season 5 <\/b><\/i>premiered on Netflix<\/b><\/i><\/a> on Wednesday, Nov. 26. Parts 2 and 3 will be released on Dec. 25 and Dec. 31, respectively. <\/b><\/i><\/p>\n