Netflix’s sci-fi original,Stranger Things,is one of themost popular TV showsto come out in recent times. What started as an ‘80s throwback, inspired by the works of Steven Spielberg and Stephen King,Stranger Thingsnow rivalsGame of Thronesand Marvel franchises in popularity, but one star had his reservations about the show initially.
David Harbour, who plays Jim Hopper, the sheriff ofStranger Things’fictional town of Hawkins, thought the show wouldn’t survive past season one. Harbour appeared on the BBC’sThe One Show(viaInsider) recently with Bill Pullman to talk about their playMad House. It was only a matter of time beforeStranger Thingscame up. When asked if he expected the show to be so successful when he signed on, Harbour replied:
“Not at all. I remember when we were shooting the first season. We were down in Atlanta, Netflix had given us a budget of about $20. Halfway through I remember my hair person coming up to me, like about episode four we were shooting, and she was like, ‘I don’t think it’s gonna work.’ By the time we finished, we wrapped, I thought we wouldn’t get a second season, we’d be the first Netflix show kind of ever to never get a second season. We thought no one would watch it, it was going to be a disaster.”
Harbour didn’t really explain what made him believe that, butStranger Thingscertainly was a risky bet for Netflix. The creators, Matt and Ross Duffer, showed promise and had previously worked with M. Night Shyamalan onWayward Pines,but were still fairly new to a big-budget, ambitious show likeStranger Things. Plus, the series had kids as protagonists, something other networks had cited as a reason while rejecting the Duffer brothers’ pitch. But Netflix was willing to take the risk, and the rest is history.
Related:David Harbour Picks Euphoria Star to Play Young Jim Hopper in Stranger Things Spinoff
David Harbour Will Return In Stranger Things Season 5
David Harbour’s concerns about cancellations might feel relevant now sinceNetflix has been canceling TV showslike hot cakes, even the ones it revived after being axed by other networks, but in 2016, Netflix operated much differently. In fact, most of their best shows,Narcos, Daredevil, and House of Cards,were made at that time.Stranger Things,too, has been immensely successful for Netflix and is one of the few ongoing shows that’ve run beyond season three, but the beloved series is set to conclude with the upcoming fifth and final season.
Stranger Thingsseason 4 premiered last month after a three-year gap and is, so far, the biggest series of the year. One of the surprises season 4 served up was David Harbour’s return as Jim Hopper, considering the character seemingly perished in the season 3 finale.Harbour had made peace with his character’s demiseand even thought he should die sometimes. But Hopper’s resurrection in season four has changed Harbour’s perspective, and he hopesStranger Thingswill close out his arc convincingly in the next season, which theHellboystar teases will be quite emotional.
“I think it varies from person to person, from character to character, and I’m such a harassment specialist that I think I’ve gotten it out of them. It’s been back and forth about like, ‘What happens to Hopper? Is he a character that’s able to survive Hawkins or does he die?' … I know what happens and it’s quite moving, and quite beautiful.”
