The creators of the hit Netflix series "Stranger Things" have disclosed that David Harbour was not their original choice to play Chief Jim Hopper. In a recent appearance on Josh Horowitz's "Happy Sad Confused" podcast, Harbour asked the Duffer Brothers about the casting process for the beloved character.
Harbour's Revelation
During the podcast, Harbour recorded a message for the Duffer Brothers, saying, "I would like to know the casting process of Hopper. I'm pretty sure I was second choice, and I don't know who I was second choice to — maybe I was third choice?" He then asked who had to say no to allow him to take on the role.
Horowitz guessed that Josh Brolin was the first pick, but Matt Duffer revealed that the part was initially offered to Billy Crudup. "It was Billy Crudup, which is a very different – like, everything happens for a reason, right? So it's like, once it kind of clicks into place. But yeah, Billy Crudup passed. I don't think he was doing much TV at the time," Matt said.
The Casting Decision
Ross Duffer added that Harbour auditioned and immediately impressed the casting directors. "He came and read and he just did one take. We weren't even there, we just saw the tape, and it was just so clear, instantly: this is Hopper. And we just cast him right then and there," Ross explained.
Crudup later went on to star in Apple TV's "The Morning Show" alongside Reese Witherspoon and Jennifer Aniston. Harbour, who had mostly played supporting roles before "Stranger Things," spoke about how the show changed his career. "My biggest break in terms of worldwide recognition was Stranger Things. It changed my life," he said in a 2019 interview. "That little show that we shot in Atlanta for very little money with no one paying attention or caring turned into this zeitgeist."
Future of Stranger Things
Following the fifth and final season of "Stranger Things" last year, the Duffer Brothers are working on new projects and several spinoffs. An animated sidequel, "Stranger Things: Tales From '85," debuted recently. They are also developing an offshoot with new characters and stories.
Ross Duffer told Variety that the spinoff will be different from the "Star Wars" franchise. "They're going to live in a bit of a different world. There's going to be connective tissue, but you're almost anthologizing in a way. Because we're not Star Wars. We can't be like, 'Oh, now we're on this planet,'" he said. Matt added, "You're starting with new characters — it's like clean slate. You're not tied up into any knots."
