David Harbour reflects on leaving Stranger Things after 10 years as he prepares for his final appearance as Jim Hopper in the hit Netflix series, marking a bittersweet close to a long era for the acclaimed actor. Harbour, who became synonymous with the character since the show’s 2016 debut, discusses his mixed emotions and the urge to explore new creative ground as the story comes to an end later this year.
Harbour Shares Honest Thoughts on Stranger Things Finale
In a recent interview with Scarlett Johansson for Interview Magazine, David Harbour opened up about his feelings as Stranger Things approaches its concluding fifth season. The conversation between Harbour and Johansson, both veterans of major franchises, provided insight into the challenges and rewards of long-running roles.
“When I started, I loved it so much,”
—David Harbour, Actor
The actor revealed that, while the experience of portraying Jim Hopper brought him joy and professional growth, eventually repeating similar storylines began to weigh on him. Harbour spoke about colleagues warning him how long-term roles can feel repetitive, a sentiment he did not think would affect him at first. Over time, however, he reached a natural turning point in his career and sought new challenges.
“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.’”
—David Harbour, Actor
Relating to Long-Term Roles and Creative Identity
Scarlett Johansson, who portrayed Black Widow for a decade in the Marvel universe, compared her own experiences to Harbour’s. She highlighted the challenge of being closely tied to a single character, explaining that it can create a sense of creative restlessness. Harbour agreed that portraying Hopper had become a central part of his life and echoed her feelings about the constraints such roles can impose.
“It’s the same thing with this show,”
—David Harbour, Actor
According to Harbour, each season brought attempts to take his character in fresh directions but ultimately, the long-term association with the group and the narrative limited his freedom. He described some of the practical restrictions of the job, such as keeping specific physical traits for continuity, which further emphasizes how all-encompassing the role had become.
“There’d be certain seasons where you feel like, ‘I’m going to go in this different direction.’ But as you say, a piece of your psyche is occupied with this group of people and this storyline. I don’t paint my nails, but I get that idea of ‘I can’t get a haircut’ or ‘I can’t shave this freaking mustache.’”
—David Harbour, Actor
Looking Ahead as Stranger Things Prepares Its Final Season
David Harbour’s journey as Jim Hopper began with the series’ very first episode in 2016. As Stranger Things draws to a close, the final season—set to launch in three parts in late 2025—marks both an end and a fresh start for Harbour’s acclaimed career. Season 5 will premiere its first volume on November 26, followed by additional installments on December 25 and December 31.
Fans and industry observers await the outcome as Harbour, the cast, and creators of Stranger Things prepare for the show‘s conclusion. The challenging emotions and creative ambitions voiced by Harbour and Johansson underscore the lasting impact of such dedicated roles, while hinting at new possibilities for both artists as they step into future projects.
