David Harbour Thought His ‘Stranger Things’ Character Should Have Died by the End of Season 1

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As the last episodes of “Stranger Things” on Netflix draw near, actor David Harbour – who plays chief-of-police Jim Hopper – is looking back on his character. In a recent interview with British GQ, Harbour (who’s promoting his upcoming Marvel film “Thunderbolts”) shared some unexpected thoughts about how he believed Hopper’s story should have concluded earlier.

As a passionate cinephile, I find myself deeply engrossed in the captivating world of “Stranger Things,” where I play the role of Hopper, Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) adoptive father. This telepathic young girl, whose enigmatic arrival in the quaint town of Hawkins, Indiana sets off a whirlwind of sci-fi adventures and peril, is my on-screen daughter. Interestingly, when I first joined this series, I had contemplated exiting even before its inception.

According to the profile, “David Harbour, who plays Hopper in ‘Stranger Things,’ wasn’t sure at first that Hopper’s farewell would happen so late in the series. Before it gained its massive popularity on Netflix and there was a possibility it might only last one season like most shows, Harbour believed that Hopper should have died by suicide at the end of the first season. In his opinion, this was the only way Hopper could express remorse to his daughter.

Although his character will appear in the fifth and last season, there was a suspenseful ending to season three suggesting that Hopper might have given up his life for his loved ones. A brief scene at the end of the finale hinted that Hopper might not be deceased, yet Harbour mentions that many viewers preferred to imagine him making this selfless act.

As a passionate movie enthusiast, I can’t help but express my sentiment that the creators seemed deeply dedicated to capturing the poignancy of his final moment. It was so emotionally stirring that it felt as if they almost wished he wouldn’t have survived.

The final season of “Stranger Things” debuts on Netflix later this year.

Should you or someone you care about be experiencing thoughts of suicide, reach out to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline by dialing 988 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for valuable resources.

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2025-04-23 22:46