David Harbour has played a lot of interesting characters in his career but there's one that stands out among the rest. After all, he shot into superstardom after he debuted as Jim Hopper in the first season of Stranger Things. It's the one role he has played for a long time and Harbour has just admitted that he is worried that it will be the only thing that people remember about him after the Netflix series ends.
It has already been confirmed that Stranger Things Season 5 will be the last one of the show and we're expecting Hopper's story to get an awesome conclusion after being taken to Russia and returning to Hawkins as a new man. But for his part, David Harbour is already looking towards the future and in order to do that, he is reflecting on his journey as Hopper.
Harbour spoke to Insider about what would happen when Stranger Things finally comes to an end and the Black Widow star admitted that although he loves Hopper, he doesn't want the character to be the only things people know about him.
"The first year of Stranger Things, I remember having a discussion with a publicist and her saying, 'Maybe you don't want to be associated with the show so much,' and I was like, 'Why? I love this show. I love the character.' And I do love the show. And I do love the character," Harbour said. "But I don't want to be just that character. I don't want to be just that guy."
He continued by stating that although he wants fans to continue loving Hopper long after Stranger Things Season 5 has ended, he also wishes to move on with his life.
“I’m trying to navigate some of that, and it's tricky because you don't want to sh-t on the people that love you for this thing that you did that you also love. But at the same time, you kind of want to leave the nest," Harbour said. "I got more in me. I 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 the rest of my life."
It's understandable why Harbour is concerned about being pigeonholed as Hopper for the rest of his career. Several actors are usually identified through their most famous characters and tend to be cast in similar roles. Still, we're hoping that Harbour gets to pursue other awesome roles in his career.
When is the Stranger Things Season 5 Release Date?
Stranger Things Season 5 continues to be a work in progress. After being delayed for scheduling reasons, the final season of the Netflix show is now being held back by the ongoing strikes. For now, it has not yet been revealed when the fifth season will resume production. Make sure to check this page for new updates on this story.
If you're hoping to see David Harbour as someone who isn't similar to Hopper, you can always check out his portrayal of the titular anti-hero in 2019's reboot of Hellboy. He is currently promoting his new film Gran Turismo which hits theaters across North America on August 25, 2023.
