The actor spoke with EW a day before his big surprise cameo in the prequel play “The First Shadow.”

Jamie Campbell Bower talks Stranger Things Broadway debut and its connections to season 5 (exclusive)

The actor spoke with EW a day before his big surprise cameo in the prequel play "The First Shadow."

By Nick Romano

Nick Romano is a senior editor at ** with 15 years of journalism experience covering entertainment. His work previously appeared in *Vanity Fair*, Vulture, IGN, and more.

EW's editorial guidelines

December 20, 2025 1:30 p.m. ET

Leave a Comment

"Something very, very special has happened here tonight," Louis McCartney, who stars as Henry Creel in Broadway's *Stranger Things: The First Shadow*, told the audience after his performance Friday night at New York City's Marquis Theater.

That was because Jamie Campbell Bower, who portrays Henry/Vecna/One on the Netflix streaming hit, surprised the packed house by reprising his TV role in the play's final scene.

The stage prequel chronicles Henry's younger years before he became Vecna, but its ending jumps forward in time. On most nights, McCartney plays the character all the way through to that sequence. So when it was Bower who slowly turned toward the audience instead, the crowd erupted in raucous, continuous applause.

Ahead of his Broadway debut, ** spoke with Bower about how his big cameo together.

Jamie Campbell Bower reprises his 'Stranger Things' role in Broadway's 'The First Shadow'.

Evan Zimmerman/Netflix

When he was at the recent L.A. premiere for *Stranger Things*' new season, a colleague approached him, telling him McCartney was there. "She was like, 'They might want you to come on stage and do a walk-on — before Louis tells you, just to let you know,'" Bower said. "So then Louis was like, 'I hear you're gonna do the walk-on.' I subsequently found out that it might have been his idea all along, but I think it's been in the works for a minute."

'Stranger Things: Tales From '85' will be science meets 'Upside Down matter' (exclusive)

'Stranger Things' co-creator Ross Duffer teases new details about Vol. 2 episodes: 'Far darker and far scarier'

Bower was recalling the moment one day before his Broadway appearance. Thursday was the fitting. Friday was the rehearsal. Friday night was the performance. How was he prepping?

"Just total avoidance at this point in time," he admitted. "I guess I'm just gonna step back into the character again.... I've seen this show twice now, so I think I'm prepared. I know who [Henry] is, which is a good start."

*Stranger Things: The First Shadow* goes back in time to when the Creel family moved from Nevada to the sleepy Indiana town of Hawkins in 1959. Henry is tormented by his powers and trying to keep the mysterious shadows at bay while trying to fit in at Hawkins High. He becomes friends (maybe more than friends) with Patty Newby, sister to Bob Newby and daughter of the school's principal.

Jamie Campbell Bower during rehearsals for 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow'.

Evan Zimmerman/Netflix

*Stranger Things* season 5, which heavily features Bower's Henry, touches on moments from *The First Shadow*. In an episode 4 scene, Sadie Sink's Max peruses through Vecna's memories, seeing a younger Joyce passing out flyers for the school play *Oklahoma,* which is a big plot point in the *ST* stage play.

Bower's Broadway cameo emphasizes the connections between those projects.

"Certain things that are discussed within the play are further explored this season, which, when working on this season, was definitely helpful," Bower says. "But there were also experiences that I envisaged Henry having whilst I was getting prepared to play the character in season 4, and I felt like when I watched the play, a lot of those things were qualified almost."

He points to Henry's relationship with his mother, Virginia, and father, Victor, as well as the latter's alcohol dependency. "There's a brief moment where Virginia hits Henry across the face [in the play]," Bower says, "and I think there was always this idea of isolation and loneliness with the character."

Jamie Campbell Bower takes a bow with the cast of 'Stranger Things: The First Shadow'.

Evan Zimmerman/Netflix

***Get your daily dose of entertainment news, celebrity updates, and what to watch with our EW Dispatch newsletter.***

Following the curtain call at Friday's performance, McCartney took a moment to address the audience with Bower by his side and the cast surrounding them. "To share this moment with you all, with all of us on stage, to invite you, to get you here on the Marquis stage, man, it is such an honor," the actor told Bower. "Thank you so much for coming, man. You're such an inspiration. You are such a support to me, to the show all these years."

He continued, "Henry Creel is the dynamite of *The First Shadow*. Without you, nothing is possible — your love, your talent, your devotion, everything you've put into this all these years … So, Jamie, congratulations, man!"

Tickets for Broadway's *Stranger Things: The First Shadow* are on sale now. Episodes 5 to 7 of *Stranger Things* season 5, Vol. 2 premiere Dec. 25 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on Netflix.

- Sci-Fi & Fantasy Shows

Original Article on Source

Source: “EW Sci-Fi”