David Harbour adds another big screen role to his filmography when “Gran Turismo” hits theaters on August 25. And that’s what the “Stranger Things” star wants: because he doesn’t want to be associated with Jim Hopper the rest of his career.
EW reports that in a new interview with Insider, Harbour opened up about the imminent end of “Stranger Things,” and how he’s ready to tackle other parts and roles after the fifth and final seasons. “The first year of “Stranger Things,” I remember having a discussion with a publicist and her saying, ‘Maybe you don’t want to be associated with the show so much,’ and I was like, ‘Why? I love this show. I love the character,’” said Harbour. “And I do love the show. And I do love the character. But I don’t want to be just that character. I don’t want to be just that guy.”
READ MORE: New ‘Gran Turismo’ Trailer: Sony’s Racing Film With David Harbour & Orlando Bloom Hits Theaters On August 11
And while Sheriff Hopper has been Harbour’s break-out role as an actor, it’s not necessarily career-defining. He’s branched out beyond the Netflix smash hit as the show hit its later seasons, like joining the MCU in 2021 in “Black Widow” as Red Guardian. But since the inception of “Stranger Things,” Harbour also starred in the 2019 “Hellboy” reboot, played a violent and vindictive Santa Clause in “Violent Night,” and had a supporting role in Steven Soderbergh‘s “No Sudden Move.” And while “Hellboy” didn’t fare too well with critics and audiences, “Violent Night” gave Harbour his first taste of box office success; now he wants more. “I’ve been on Netflix … but this was a small original movie that’s going to a cinema. A whole new world opened up for me with that,” Harbour continued. “I like this playing field. I want to make original movies that go to the movie theaters.”
That’s what Harbour is doing in “Gran Turismo,” a racing movie where he has a critical supporting role. But the actor is looking for more than just second or third-bill roles: he wants the leading man jobs, too. “I think about George Clooney leaving “ER,”” he said. “Now we just see him as George Clooney. But there was a time when it was, ‘The guy from “ER” is doing a movie with Nicole Kidman.’” Perhaps one day movie audiences will see Harbour lead an ensemble a lá Clooney in Soderbergh’s “Ocean’s Eleven” films? Stranger things have happened.
But Harbour’s also aware that all his success may be traced back to “Stranger Things.” “I’m trying to navigate some of that,” the actor went on. “It’s tricky because you don’t want to sh*t on the people that love you for this thing that you did that you also love. But at the same time, you kind of want to leave the nest. I got more in me. I got different stuff in me, and I want you guys to see that. I don’t want people yelling ‘Hopper’ on the street every five minutes the rest of my life.”
But Harbour will still have to deal with those Hopper catcalls for a bit longer, as the final season of “Stranger Things” is still on the way, albeit delayed due to the WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. And make no mistake: Harbour can’t wait to don Hopper’s sheriff hat one last time.