Just six weeks after concluding his role in the hit series Stranger Things, Caleb McLaughlin is stepping into the spotlight with GOAT, the latest animated film from Sony Pictures Animation. At 24 years old, McLaughlin lends his voice to the title character, Will Harris, in a movie blending sports and fantasy that continues Sony’s streak of acclaimed projects, including the Oscar-winning Spider-Verse trilogy and the Oscar-nominated KPop Demon Hunters. The film’s unique sport, “roarball,” is a basketball-style game played by various animals within their native ecosystems, with Will defying expectations despite being undersized for the game.
Will’s rise begins when he unexpectedly gains attention by outplaying ROAR league MVP Mane Attraction, voiced by Aaron Pierre, in a streetball challenge. This viral moment leads the struggling team, the Vineland Thorns, to offer him a contract to boost ticket sales as they close their season, setting the stage for an underdog story filled with determination and growth.
Underdog Narratives Connect McLaughlin’s Past Roles to GOAT
McLaughlin’s career is no stranger to stories emphasizing the underdog’s journey, especially when intertwined with basketball and NBA legends. Before GOAT, he portrayed Dru Joyce III, LeBron James’ best friend and former high school teammate, in the film Shooting Stars, produced by James himself. Additionally, Stephen Curry—another NBA great and Olympic teammate of James—is both a producer and voice actor in GOAT, deepening the NBA-inspired ties.
These fictional yet relatable stories resonate with McLaughlin on a personal level. One particularly formative experience involved an early audition where he discovered he and another child actor had been double-booked for the same role. Though initially cast, McLaughlin was reassigned as a dancer rather than an actor, leading to feelings of frustration and humiliation. Reflecting on that moment, McLaughlin recalls,
“I remember going to the bathroom and crying. I said to myself, ‘I don’t want to ever feel like this again. I’m not going to let it happen,’”
McLaughlin tells The Hollywood Reporter in support of GOAT’s February 13 release.
“There was growth in that moment. I got stronger and I got better because of that underdog situation.”
Addressing Stranger Things’ Final Fan Theory with Humor and Clarity
While McLaughlin savors his post-Stranger Things career, he recently tackled a popular fan theory regarding the show’s finale alongside co-stars Finn Wolfhard and Gaten Matarazzo during a sketch on Saturday Night Live. The theory, known as “Conformity Gate,” suggested that the extended final episode was a deceptive illusion created by Vecna, the series’ antagonist, and that the story’s real conclusion would unfold later.
Though McLaughlin initially considered this theory shortsighted, he now sees it as a coping mechanism for fans processing the end of a beloved series, mirroring how the characters mourn the loss of Eleven, played by Millie Bobby Brown. However, McLaughlin and frequent scene partner Sadie Sink firmly believe Eleven’s story has ended.
“At first, I thought the ‘Conformity Gate’ theory was dumb. I get that people want to live in this optimistic place of, ‘Oh, we want more Stranger Things,’ but I was like, ‘Guys, it’s over. It’s been ten years,’”
McLaughlin explains.
“I think people missed the concept of what the show is when they were like, ‘Oh, there’s going to be more.’ No, that’s just Mike’s imagination. That’s who he’s always been, even in season one. It’s all just storytelling.”
Parallel Projects: Stranger Things and GOAT’s Overlapping Production
During a conversation with The Hollywood Reporter, McLaughlin revealed that he worked on GOAT concurrently with filming the fifth season of Stranger Things. He recorded his voiceover parts during breaks and weekends, taking advantage of the flexibility offered by animation work. His final recording session for GOAT even took place in London amidst the Stranger Things press tour, with the project spanning approximately two years.
Interestingly, David Harbour, McLaughlin’s co-star from Stranger Things, also voiced a key character in GOAT: Archie, the rhinoceros teammate of Will Harris. McLaughlin only learned about Harbour’s involvement halfway through 2025, despite working alongside him throughout filming. Due to contractual secrecy and behind-the-scenes protocols, neither actor was aware of the other’s participation in the animated film until much later.
Adapting Voice Acting to Portray Will Harris
McLaughlin discussed how performing voiceover work required different acting techniques compared to live-action. Without the benefit of physical expression, he had to rely heavily on vocal inflection to convey Will’s personality and emotions. The animation team then brought additional character details to life visually, but McLaughlin made sure to emphasize each question and statement more dramatically than he would in traditional acting roles.
Basketball as a Recurring Theme in McLaughlin’s Career
Basketball has consistently been part of McLaughlin’s acting journey, with roles as basketball players in High Flying Bird, Shooting Stars, Stranger Things, and now GOAT. Though he began playing organized basketball in his hometown before acting, his commitments shifted later, limiting him mostly to casual games and individual practice. Despite this, McLaughlin tries to play whenever he can.
GOAT centers around a fictional sport called roarball, a basketball variant played by animals in their natural biomes. Will’s desire to play professionally mirrors McLaughlin’s own experiences with underdog moments, both on screen and off. In fact, McLaughlin recalls a significant audition incident involving the role of a boy named Gerald, where a mix-up with another actor led to him being shifted to a dancing part instead of acting, which initially felt like a setback but ultimately motivated him.
“Oh, what are you doing here?”
McLaughlin recounts as a spontaneous exchange during that audition in the dressing room.
“Both of you guys can’t be Gerald.”
Later, the director said,
“I’m so sorry I had you sitting there. We’re going to figure out how to put you in.”
McLaughlin continues,
“I ended up dancing and pop-locking, but that was all I was called in to do.”
Despite initially feeling overlooked, McLaughlin found strength in the experience, which reinforced his ambition to succeed as an actor rather than just a dancer.
Physical Skills and On-Screen Action in Stranger Things
Though McLaughlin is skilled in dance and acrobatics, he did not often get to incorporate these talents into his Stranger Things stunts except for a few sequences in earlier seasons. He performed a stunt in season one where his character Lucas is thrown by Eleven’s powers, and took part in fight scenes and dynamic bike rides later in the series. The final season also challenged him to develop Lucas’s character further while reflecting on past experiences.
Balancing Respect for NBA Legends: LeBron James and Stephen Curry
Asked to choose who the true GOAT is between LeBron James and Stephen Curry, both NBA giants associated with McLaughlin’s projects, he declines to pick one over the other, highlighting their unique qualities. McLaughlin acknowledges LeBron as the greatest for his versatility in playing all five positions and compares him to legends like Jordan and Kobe. Meanwhile, Curry’s revolutionary style and unmatched shooting skills place him in a league of his own. McLaughlin relates personally to Curry’s approach due to his own average height on the basketball court.
Identifying Donald Glover as a Personal GOAT in Entertainment
McLaughlin admired Donald Glover as his current GOAT in the entertainment world for his multifaceted talents across acting, music, writing, and directing. He finds Glover’s broad skill set and level of achievement inspiring, recognizing him as an exceptional creative force in the industry.
Behind the Scenes at Saturday Night Live
McLaughlin recently appeared on Saturday Night Live, where he was struck by the similarity between the live sketch comedy atmosphere and Broadway theater. He was impressed by the performers’ quick wit and ability to continue seamlessly despite any mistakes, emphasizing how challenging it is to be funny and smart under such fast-paced conditions. The experience reminded him of his own Broadway days early in his career.
Debunking and Embracing the Finality of Stranger Things
When asked about the fan-driven “Conformity Gate” theory that gained traction after the Stranger Things finale, McLaughlin shared that the segment in which he, Wolfhard, and Matarazzo poked fun at the idea on SNL was arranged very last minute. He was invited to participate shortly before the show and accepted enthusiastically without knowing the full details beforehand.
Despite fans’ wishful thinking, McLaughlin remains convinced that the story has reached its conclusion. He clarifies that the show’s creators, the Duffer Brothers, intended to leave the audience with an optimistic ending rooted in the imagination and storytelling style of Mike Wheeler, a central character. McLaughlin highlights that the finale’s narrative echoes the show’s start, which centered on the group playing Dungeons & Dragons.
“Guys, it’s over. It’s been ten years. We were full-on kids and now we’re full-on adults, and we don’t need any more of us.”
He adds,
“The Duffers, our wonderful, amazing creators, wanted to leave everybody with this level of optimism that the show has always given everyone.”
He aligns with Sadie Sink’s belief that Eleven’s death is definitive and that Mike’s extended epilogue was a coping method rather than a hint of more to come.
“Yeah, she’s gone. I’m so sorry. I think she evaporated.”
Reflections on Growing Up with Stranger Things
Having played a teenager for nearly a decade on the show, McLaughlin appreciates that he can now embrace being a 24-year-old without the pressure of appearing youthful for his roles. He values the freedom to be himself off-camera and looks back fondly on the journey with his fellow cast members, describing it as akin to experiencing high school and college together. Though the chapter has ended, he expresses no regrets and would happily relive the experience.
He understands fan attachment to the characters’ youthful appearances but notes that actors naturally age behind the scenes. For example, Joe Keery, who portrayed Steve Harrington, was older than the younger cast members at the beginning, yet still convincingly played a teenager for multiple seasons.
On Shawn Levy’s MCU and Star Wars Roles
Director and producer Shawn Levy, who worked with McLaughlin on Stranger Things, has since taken on prominent projects within the Marvel Cinematic Universe and the Star Wars franchise. McLaughlin mentioned that although he knew Levy’s involvement in these franchises, he has not extensively engaged with the material himself and tends not to press Levy for details out of respect and discretion.
He humorously admitted,
“I haven’t watched Star Wars,”
revealing that he has only seen the John Boyega-led film, The Force Awakens, and is gradually catching up on the classics at his own pace.
Despite not having been immersed in those popular space fantasies, McLaughlin enjoys family movie nights and credits his parents for introducing him to classics like Roots, Crooklyn, and The Matrix, along with action films favored by his father such as Ip Man.
Looking Ahead: Dreams of Marvel and New Roles
With his post-Stranger Things career underway, McLaughlin expressed enthusiasm for future possibilities, notably a desire to join the Marvel universe. He jokes about contacting Shawn Levy to advocate for him, underscoring his excitement about continuing to grow and take on diverse roles in film and television.
GOAT is scheduled to open in theaters on February 13, marking a significant new chapter for Caleb McLaughlin as he moves beyond his iconic television role into the realm of animated feature films.
