David Harbour Is Extra Than Prepared for ‘Stranger Issues’ to Be Over

David Harbour has been performing professionally for over 20 years—he was nominated for a Tony in 2005—however his massive break got here with Stranger Things. Harbour’s portrayal of Sheriff Jim Hopper instantly endeared him to viewers, and over the present’s run we’ve seen Hawkins, Indiana’s prime cop morph from boozy unhappy sack to strict however loving dad to supernatural beastie-fighting hero to Siberian prison escapee, plus just a little romantic pressure with Winona Ryder’s character on the aspect.

And since Stranger Issues‘ debut in 2016, Harbour has parlayed his Netflix success to different starring roles; whereas his Hellboy was a bust, he additionally created an entire new sort of Santa Claus within the glorious Violent Night time and entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe by way of Black Widow and Thunderbolts. He’s additionally discovered success on the DC aspect too, starring in animated collection Creature Commandos.

Whereas it doesn’t look like Stranger Issues‘ filming schedule has held him again from including to his filmography, he’s clearly prepared for the liberty he’ll have as soon as the present has aired its remaining batch of episodes. His schedule will likely be extra open to new initiatives, after all, however he’ll additionally be capable to put Jim Hopper to mattress for good.

In an Interview Magazine chat with Scarlett Johansson, his co-star in Black Widow, he sounded grateful however weary.

“After I began I liked it a lot. Buddies of mine who’d executed TV exhibits for a few years mentioned, ‘By season three or 4 you’ll be operating.’ And I used to be like, By no means! I really like all these guys a lot,’” he recalled. “And you then get to a sure level the place you’re like, ‘How rather more story is there?’ You’re having to play plenty of the identical beat, and there’s a sense the place you’re like, ‘I wish to take a danger. I wish to do one thing that folks haven’t seen me do earlier than.’ So yeah, after 10 years, it’s like, ‘Okay.’”

Later, he elaborated extra on what it felt wish to be so dedicated to Jim Hopper, in response to Johansson talking about being locked into her Marvel character for months at a time and never feeling challenged (or in a position to change something about her look).

“There’d make sure seasons the place you are feeling like, ‘I’m going to go on this completely different route.’ However … a chunk of your psyche is occupied with this group of individuals and this storyline,” he mentioned. “I don’t paint my nails, however I get that concept of ‘I can’t get a haircut’ or ‘I can’t shave this freaking mustache.’”

One of many post-Stranger Issues Harbour initiatives we’re most excited for is the Violent Night time sequel, which Variety reported right this moment simply bought a launch date of December 4, 2026.

Stranger Issues returns November 26 to Netflix for the primary 4 episodes of season 5. The remainder of the season rolls out December 25 (episodes 5-7) and December 31 (episode 8).

Need extra io9 information? Take a look at when to anticipate the newest Marvel, Star Wars, and Star Trek releases, what’s subsequent for the DC Universe on film and TV, and all the things it’s essential to find out about the way forward for Doctor Who.