Vecna Had Some Sound Advice for Stranger Things’s Delightful Derek

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As we reach the midpoint of Stranger Things‘ final season, Jake Connelly is quickly becoming a standout performer. He’s won over fans with his portrayal of Derek, a character who starts as an annoying bully but transforms into a surprisingly funny hero. Even with all the positive attention online since the first part of the season was released, Connelly is still a typical 13-year-old – excited to spend the weekend sledding with friends and cheering on his football team.

“It’s been completely crazy,” says Connelly, reflecting on a busy week at school. Instead of talking about classes at his school’s elective night, he was surrounded by fans who love the character he plays – a character known for using strong language. “I think it’s awesome that people want to take pictures with me,” he explains. “It’s hilarious to hear my friends repeating my character’s lines – especially since they’re pretty outrageous!”

Just a few weeks ago, this eighth-grader from Chicago was a typical kid who loved football and had only done a local commercial for Feldco Windows, Siding & Doors. But his life has changed dramatically, even though the character he plays, Derek, wasn’t originally meant to be so well-liked. When he first read the script, Derek came across as unpleasant – some even considered him obnoxious. He terrorized a classmate, bragged about his messy room, and was generally disrespectful. However, the show’s creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, were so impressed with the actor’s personality during a script reading that they completely changed the character. Inspired by a speech from Joyce (Winona Ryder), Derek unexpectedly becomes a leader, rallying the other kids in Hawkins to fight against Vecna and protect each other.

Connelly believes everyone has a core of goodness within them. He uses the Grinch as an example, pointing out that the residents of Whoville helped him change for the better. Connelly suggests that, like the Grinch, people need someone to encourage their positive side and help them realize the fulfilling feeling that comes from doing good. He feels Joyce’s encouragement was key to Derek’s self-discovery and understanding of this feeling.

What makes Derek so likable? A lot of people seem to connect with him because he’s relatable – he struggles with insecurities, gets anxious, and sometimes lets those feelings affect how he treats others.

I got started in acting kind of by chance. A friend of my mom’s directs commercials in Chicago and needed a kid with glasses for one. We decided to try it, and it opened a lot of doors. I signed with an agency, landed a big audition, and things really took off from there.

Everyone needs to watch this commercial! It’s for a roofing company, and it shows roof shingles falling onto burgers during a barbecue. In the commercial, my on-screen dad jokes that the burgers are cooked after he removes the shingles, and my character screams for his mom – it’s a really funny scene.

Growing up, my family and I were huge fans of Stranger Things – we’d always watch an episode together before bed. So when I saw they were holding auditions, it felt like a total dream come true, but honestly, I didn’t think I had much of a chance. We figured, ‘Hey, it’s Stranger Things, it’s a long shot, but why not try?’ To my surprise, I got a couple of callbacks, and they ended up liking my audition! I’d always been fascinated by actors who play villains, and I really enjoy the chance to step into someone completely different from myself.

Someone asked how he found out he got the part. He explained they were sheltering in the basement during a tornado warning when his agents asked for a quick call. They figured they had nothing else going on, so they took it. When they joined the call, they realized all of his agents were on, and that’s when they told him, “Jake, you’re going to Hawkins!”

It was exciting to start filming! My first day was in the basement of the radio station building, during the scene where I was eating Doritos in episode four. I’ve always enjoyed doing scenes with food because it’s fun to actually eat while filming. It was also really sweet of my teacher to leave a little bag of Nerds and some balloons in my trailer before I went on set – that was a really thoughtful gesture.

The young actors in this show were all around your age when it started, and they’ve become really close. Was it scary joining a group that already had that kind of bond? I was definitely nervous at first. I remember my leg shaking during the first time we read through the script together. But everyone was so welcoming, it felt like I’d been part of the group from the beginning. Joe Keery and Gaten Matarazzo even started playfully throwing paper balls at me, which really helped me feel comfortable and at ease in a completely new situation.

Someone asked if any of my co-stars gave me advice. Jamie Campbell Bower, who plays Vecna, was a huge help. We actually found him outside our hotel one night, near a dumpster, and asked how he was doing. He told me, “Jake, my advice is to stay grounded and don’t let success go to your head.”

Matt Duffer, one of the show’s creators, explained that my character, Derek, began as a typical bully. However, they found my performance so engaging and humorous that they developed him into a more complex character. As filming progressed, I noticed Matt and Ross, the creators, were changing their plans for Derek’s story and actions. It all started after a table read when Matt and Ross told me they were impressed with my charm and wanted to expand my role. I was thrilled they trusted me with more responsibility, and that allowed me to fully commit to the work and feel confident in my performance.

You brought up the encouraging conversation Joyce had with Derek, and I think you and Winona Ryder had great chemistry together. Was it easy to play off each other? Winona is genuinely one of the kindest people I’ve ever worked with—she’s very caring and motherly to everyone. I was a little nervous climbing up to the hayloft because I’m afraid of heights, but she gave me a big hug when I came down, which was really nice. I really enjoyed working with her.

Did you expect the line “Delightful Derek” to become so popular? On set that day, Matt and Ross actually told me, “Jake, this scene is going to make you a meme.” I thought it was funny at the time. It’s amazing how such a small line can actually motivate someone to give their best performance.

He slipped up and said “suck a fat one” a couple of times, so is that now Derek’s signature line? And are your parents okay with that phrase being used, especially since it might be heard off-camera? Actually, my parents think it’s funny! [Laughs] It’s just weird hearing people shout it at school, though.

Derek’s bedroom is a fantastic recreation of an 1980s space. I actually knew a lot about the games and toys because my parents grew up in that era and shared them with me. It was incredible how detailed the set was – everything from vintage Macintosh computers to stuffed Gumby toys, Transformers pillows, and even He-Man bedding really took me back!

People keep asking about that dinner scene with the Turnbow family – the one where we all get drugged! They’re especially curious about my laugh. It’s definitely a unique one, and I get that. Actually, the director, Frank Darabont, gave me some really helpful direction. He told me to basically ‘heckle like a goblin,’ so that’s what I did! I really tried to get into that goblin mindset, and it worked – even my brother started cracking up while we were filming!

Noah Schnapp mentioned that things got a little physical between us while filming. He said I playfully pushed him, Winona, and Maya Hawke around, and then he ended up tackling me! I did get a few scrapes, but I was having fun and felt like I was in a movie, just like Tom Cruise. I guess my football background kicked in! Getting tackled doesn’t sound great, but once you’re in the middle of it, it’s actually really exciting. I’m used to a little roughhousing, so I was okay. It was even cooler when I saw the NFL’s TikTok account post a video of a Bears coach celebrating, and they mentioned me alongside my favorite team!

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2025-12-15 23:56