“It’s a privilege to be able to tell this story in another part of the world,” McCartney told The Associated Press. “I’m so happy to be able to fly across the pond and be able to do it all again in New York, but better.”

Set in Indiana 20 years before the events of the Netflix show’s first season, the drama focuses on the life of McCartney’s Henry Creel as a shy, awkward teen. Fans of the TV show will know that the teenage villain becomes the demon Vesna in the fourth season.

“If you haven’t seen ‘Stranger Things,’ this is a great opportunity for you to be introduced because it is a prequel,” he says. “It’s its own story and has everything that will make you fall in love with ‘Stranger Things’ all over again.”

Belfast-born, London-based McCartney received the role following an open casting call and earned praise for his portrayal of a teenager with psychic and psychokinetic abilities. He says the Broadway version would be even better, incorporating a larger theater.

“This is a new playground,” he says. “Imagine what we’ve done so far but 10 times. If the confusion goes up, the story has to go up. I think there’s more story to tell. And I think we can go deeper. ”

Performances of ‘Stranger Things: The First Shadow’ will begin on March 28, 2025, ahead of an official opening on April 22, 2025. The original story is written by the Duffer Brothers, Jack Thorne and Kate Trefry and directed by Stephen Daldry and co. -Directed by Justin Martin.

McCartney was a die-hard fan of “Stranger Things” but had no plans to become a stage actor. He trained in screen work and credits Daldry and Martin for seeing his potential.

He says “Stranger Things: The First Shadow” is world-weary and mesmerizing with the Demogorgon and special effects, but it’s also grounded in heartfelt tragedy, particularly his doomed Henry, a “Hamlet”-like figure who Jamie played on TV. Campbell Bower.

“This is the character who has the weight of the world on his shoulders. He is unable to understand what has happened to him. He wants to know what’s going on inside his head, like every 14-year-old boy does,” he says.

“It’s all built on love. That’s what’s so sad about it – whatever he does, he does it for love. He is pulled in every direction.”

The play is set in 1959, where the audience meets troubled teen Henry, who moves to Hawkins, Indiana with his damaged father and overprotective mother. Among other strange events, pets begin dying, and the radio begins malfunctioning.

McCartney draws on his own childhood to capture the moment when a teenager’s voice begins to break and they become shy and lack social skills, especially around girls.

“Sometimes I feel isolated from everyone. But then I felt included and people started to understand who I was,” McCartney says. “With Henry Creel it’s very cathartic. It’s very easy to cry on stage with this writing. It’s very close to what everyone feels.”

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