‘Stranger Things’ Creators Reveal the Real First Choice for Chief Hopper
Matt Duffer said Billy Crudup was the original pick for Hopper before David Harbour auditioned and won the role.
- On Monday, Stranger Things creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed on the Happy Sad Confused podcast that Billy Crudup was their first choice to play police chief Jim Hopper.
- The revelation followed a video message from David Harbour, who asked the creators about the casting process, admitting he was "pretty sure I was second choice," while Matt Duffer explained Crudup passed because he was not doing much television at the time.
- Harbour ultimately secured the role after submitting an audition tape that creators found instantly convincing; he and Crudup are friends who previously worked together as costars on the 2012 film Thin Ice.
- While Harbour achieved A-list stardom through his Hopper role, Crudup later landed a starring role on Apple TV's The Morning Show, as creators noted "everything happens for a reason" when casting clicked into place.
- Harbour observed that "every Hollywood actor's big break" often results from being second, third, or fourth choice, reflecting the professional reality underlying the Stranger Things casting decision.
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The Independent
The Independent (US)Duffer Brothers reveal David Harbour not first choice for Hopper in Stranger Things
‘Everything happens for a reason, right?’ Matt Duffer said
‘Stranger Things’ creators reveal the real first choice for Chief Hopper
“Stranger Things” creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that actor Billy Crudup was their original choice to play Chief Jim Hopper before the role eventually went to David Harbour, according to Variety.
Stranger Things creators reveal Hollywood star who very nearly played Hopper instead of David Harbour
The Duffer brothers, creators of the Netflix phenomenon Stranger Things, have revealed that another actor was actually their first choice for the role of Hopper.As played by David Harbour, the disgruntled sheriff of Hawkins, Indiana was one of the series' most sympathetic and popular characters, as well as one of the most important, given his close relationship to both Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and Joyce Byers (Winona Ryder).But what if it had…
Duffer Brothers Reveal Billy Crudup Was Original Choice To Play Hopper In ‘Stranger Things’: “Everything Happens For A Reason”
David Harbour’s Chief Jim Hopper is a key figure in Stranger Things‘ fictitious town of Hawkins, Indiana, eventually coming to serve as surrogate father to Eleven (Millie Bobby Brown) and helping to unravel the central sci-fi mystery of the Upside Down. However, the twice Emmy-nominated actor was not the original choice to play the role, creators Matt Duffer and Ross Duffer revealed. The Duffer Brothers opened up about the tidbit in a new inte…
'Stranger Things' Creators Reveal Which Actor They Originally Wanted to Play Hopper
Jim Hopper almost had a much different vibe in “Stranger Things.” While guesting on the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast, The Duffer brothers were prompted by a pre-recorded question sent in by David Harbour – who played Hopper for five seasons on the Netflix hit. He wanted to know who they really went after first for the role. “I’m pretty sure I was second choice, and I don’t know who I was second choice to – maybe I was third choice,” Harbour said…
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