David Harbour nearly missed out on Hopper role, Duffer brothers confirm

David Harbour’s iconic role as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things almost went to another actor, according to a surprising casting revelation from the show’s creators.

The Duffer Brothers shared the behind-the-scenes detail during an appearance on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused, revealing that Harbour was not originally their first pick for the role that would later become one of the series’ most defining characters.

In a playful twist, Harbour himself had previously submitted a recorded question to the creators, directly asking about the casting process.

“I’m pretty sure I was second choice… maybe I was third choice?” he said. “Would you please answer… who had to say no so I could get this wonderful role?”

Host Josh Horowitz initially guessed actor Josh Brolin had been considered for the part, but Matt Duffer quickly shut that theory down, jokingly repeating, “No, no, no, no, no.”

He then revealed the original choice: “It was Billy Crudup.”

Reflecting on the decision years later, Duffer added that casting often works in unpredictable ways.

“Everything happens for a reason,” he said, noting that once the role finally came together, it simply “clicked into place.”

He confirmed that Crudup ultimately passed on the role, adding that the actor “wasn’t doing much TV at the time.”