Stranger Things' David Harbour Reveals Heartwarming Insights Into His Young Co-Stars' Remarkable Growth

Summary

David Harbour reflects on watching his young Stranger Things co-stars grow up, admitting he was pleasantly surprised by their individual paths.

The aging of the actors on Stranger Things has resulted in a potential continuity problem for the final season as they appear older than their characters. There are rumors suggesting that season 5 might incorporate a time jump to address this issue and bring the ages of the characters in line with their older actors. Harbour subtly indicated this likelihood during an interview.

Stranger Things star David Harbour reflects on his experience witnessing the maturation of his young co-stars. Since its premiere in 2016, Stranger Things has captivated audiences with its nostalgic and heartwarming tale of a group of children, one of whom possesses extraordinary psychic abilities. Together, they unite to protect their quaint Indiana town of Hawkins from the terrors of an alternate dimension. When the first season of Stranger Things aired, the main cast members were just 12 years old. However, as the highly anticipated fifth and final season approaches, these same actors will now be in their early twenties.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, conducted prior to the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike, Harbour - known for his role as Jim Hopper, the paternal figure to the kids - openly discusses his observations on the growth and development of his fellow cast members throughout the four seasons of Stranger Things. Harbour shares that although he had initial predictions about the paths they would take, he has been pleasantly surprised by the progress they have made. Read his insightful comments below:

I'm certain there's substance to your question, but initially, it was quite amusing to witness the growth and development of the Stranger Things kids. During the first season, we had around five of them. The group has since expanded, but back then, they were all so young and inexperienced. Consequently, we all made bets on their different paths, and I happened to be wrong about each and every one of them. Thus, it's both gratifying and disheartening at times. Nevertheless, it has been fascinating to witness these kids surprise me in the entertainment industry.

How The Stranger Things Cast's Ages Will Affect The Final Season

During the filming of Stranger Things season 1, the young actors' ages closely aligned with those of their characters, who were all roughly 12 years old. However, when season 4 premiered in 2022, the characters had only aged to around 15 and were embarking on their first year of high school. In contrast, the actors themselves were already in their late teens and early twenties. Unfortunately, Stranger Things season 5 has yet to begin filming and has encountered additional setbacks due to a double strike. Consequently, the previously youthful cast will have transformed into fully grown adults by the time they reprise their iconic roles for the final time.

The series' continuity may be affected by the ages of the actors. If Season 5 of Stranger Things were to continue directly after Season 4, the actors would still portray 15-year-olds. It is common for actors in their twenties to play teenage roles in movies and shows, such as Natalia Dyer, who was 21 when she portrayed Nancy Wheeler in Season 1. However, Stranger Things was praised for employing age-appropriate actors, so maintaining young characters with older actors would be inconsistent.

There is a prevalent theory that Season 5 of Stranger Things will feature a time jump, which would age the main cast and lessen the gap between the characters and the actors' appearances. David Harbour, who plays a lead role, seemingly confirmed this theory in an interview by stating that the final season will not immediately follow the events of Season 4. Depending on the extent of the time jump, it could be the solution to aligning the characters' ages with the more mature looks of their actors.

Source: THR