“I love this show”: Stranger Things Star David Harbour Was Warned for a Strange Reason Before Accepting the Role That Became Scarily True
Actor, David Harbour, known for his portrayal of Jim Hopper in the popular Netflix series Stranger Things, has shared his worries about being recognized as Hopper. Due to the show’s immense popularity since its debut in 2016, David Harbour has been actively involved in the show for the last six years. Recently, he has expressed his desire to venture into different film projects rather than being solely identified with this particular character.
David Harbour wants to be known more than Jim Hopper
In a recent interview with Insider, David Harbour revealed his concerns about being constantly recognized as Jim Hopper and that he wants to move out of the box instead of shrinking into a character. The character, Jim Hopper of Stranger Things is a police officer in Hawkins who joins with other protagonists in investigating strange occurrences in their town. In the interview, the 48-year-old said that he would wrap up with the fifth season of the show and would solely like to focus on expanding his character arc by making original movies that go to theaters.
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“I’ve been on Netflix, but this was a small original movie that’s going to a cinema,” Harbour said of the film Violent Night. “A whole new world opened up for me with that. I like this playing field. I want to make original movies that go to the movie theaters.”
Reflecting on this predicament, Harbour remarked that when the show Stranger Things first became popular, the publicist suggested that Harbour might not only be connected to the show. Harbour was very confused because he liked the show and the character he played. Even though he still wants to be in the show, he doesn’t want to be identified just as that character.
“I love this show. I love the character.’ And I do love the show. And I do love the character. But I don’t want to be just that character. I don’t want to be just that guy.”
David Harbour strives for versatility beyond Stranger Things
Harbour even referred to the renowned actor George Clooney, as currently, people see him as George Clooney, but there was a period when the actor was denoted by his TV show ER, where his character was Dr. Doug Ross until he decided to leave the show in the 90s. During that time, people would say, “The guy from ER is doing a movie with Nicole Kidman”.
Harbour seems to find a balance between accepting the most important role in his career and having the nerve to move away from it. He acknowledges that being known for one particular role can be limiting and wants to explore other types of characters and projects. Harbour’s desire to not be “just that guy” who wants to establish himself as a versatile actor beyond his most iconic role.
“You don’t want to spit on the people that love you for this thing that you did that you also love,” he concluded. “But at the same time, you kind of want to leave the nest. I’ve got more in me. I’ve got different stuff in me, and I want you guys to see that. I don’t want people yelling ‘Hopper’ on the street every five minutes for the rest of my life.”
Since his Stranger Things debut, Harbour has appeared in various films such as Black Widow, Violent Night, Extraction, and Gran Turismo. He’s notably recognized for his portrayal as Hellboy in a superhero capacity, Hellboy 2019. Reports are suggesting that he will be part of Marvel’s upcoming film Thunderbolts as one of the team members named Red Guardian. The fifth season of his upcoming series, Stranger Things is likely to delay due to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
Source: FAR OUT
