After nearly a decade portraying jim Hopper, chief of Hawkins Police Department, David Harbour has wrapped up filming for the fifth and final season of “Stranger things” on Netflix. The actor shared his feelings with his “black Widow” co-star Scarlett Johansson, expressing his readiness for new challenges after concluding his role on the series.

“When I started I loved it so much,” harbour said. “Buddies of mine who’d done TV shows for many years said, ‘By season three or four you’ll be running.’ And I was like, ‘Never! I love all these guys so much.’ And then you get to a certain point where you’re like, ‘How much more story is there?’ You’re having to play a lot of the same beat, and there’s a feeling where you’re like, ‘I want to take a risk. I want to do something that people haven’t seen me do before.’ so yeah, after 10 years, it’s like, ‘Okay.'”

Harbour’s Transition to Film

Harbour has previously expressed his anticipation for the conclusion of “Stranger Things.” In 2023, he told Insider about his plans to focus primarily on film roles after his time as hopper.This summer saw Harbour reprise his role as Red Guardian in Marvel’s “Thunderbolts,” and he is slated to appear in “Avengers: Doomsday.” He is also currently filming a sequel to “Violent Night.”

“I want to make original movies that go to the movie theaters,”

“I want to make original movies that go to the movie theaters,” harbour stated regarding his career aspirations. “It’s a funny position I’m in, which I never thought I would be in.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. But I don’t want to be just that character. I don’t want to be just that guy.”

Harbour added, “I think about George Clooney leaving ‘ER.’ Now we just see him as George Clooney,” Harbour continued. “But there was a time when it was,’The guy from ‘ER’ is doing a movie with Nicole Kidman.’ I’m trying to navigate some of that, and it’s tricky because you don’t want to shit 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.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.”

The final season of “Stranger Things” will be released on Netflix in three parts on Nov. 26, Dec. 25 and Dec. 31.

Sources

• [1] SAG-AFTRA Career Development Resources
• [2] U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics – Actors
• [3] Statista – Netflix’s Share of U.S.Streaming Subscribers
• [4] Box Office Mojo
• [5] The Numbers