The Shocking Truth Behind David Harbour's Fears About Stranger Things' Future

Highlights

David Harbour, who plays Jim Hopper on Stranger Things, is ready to leave the show and explore other roles to avoid being typecast.

He aspires to establish a successful path within the film industry, aiming to create impactful moments and unexpected twists in his acting. Harbour's forthcoming endeavors encompass his involvement in the movie Gran Turismo, portraying the character Jack Salter, as well as his return as Red Guardian in Marvel Studios' Thunderbolts (which is presently put on hold due to the strike).

With Stranger Things reaching its conclusion, several cast members are bidding farewell to their respective characters. David Harbour, the latest to partake in this trend, has a clear vision of his next career move.

Having gained fame as Jim Hopper, the grumpy yet loyal chief of police in Stranger Things' Hawkins, Harbour formed a special connection with the mischievous kids. Since his debut as this character in 2016, Harbour has also expanded his horizons with other projects such as portraying Red Guardian in Black Widow and Santa in Violent Night. However, the actor intends to advance his career beyond his beloved role.

The actor from Stranger Things recently shared in an interview with Insider his readiness to move on from the character of Hopper. Despite expressing gratitude for the recognition he received for his portrayal, he confesses his desire to avoid being typecast as a one-hit wonder. "I genuinely love the show and the character," he explained, "but I aspire to be more than just that character. I want to be more than just that person." He further elaborated that although he doesn't wish to appear ungrateful to fans and producers, he believes there are untapped possibilities within him that he wishes to explore. "I don't want to be accosted with 'Hopper' shouts every few minutes on the streets for the rest of my life."

In order to address this issue, his proposed solution is to focus more on the film industry and move away from television. Prior to the strike, Harbour had been actively building his filmography by taking on roles in movies such as the Hellboy reboot and the upcoming Gran Turismo. Once the strike concludes, he intends to further pursue and expand upon this path. "I dislike the term 'brand,' but I aspire for there to be a distinct experience associated with watching a movie that features me," he explained. "Viewers can anticipate an emotional journey and unexpected surprises."

Harbour has made promising headway in realizing his vision. He is already slated to star in the forthcoming movie Gran Turismo, which is based on the popular PlayStation game. In the film, he will portray Jack Salter, an audacious American tasked with transforming Jann Mardenborough (played by Archie Madekwe), a gamer, into a genuine race-car driver. Additionally, Harbour is confirmed to reprise his role as Red Guardian in Marvel Studios' upcoming film Thunderbolts, although production on this project has been temporarily suspended due to the strike.

Stranger Things seasons 1-4 are available on Netflix.

Source: Insider