David Harbour shares candid memories of early 'Stranger Things' filming chaos

David Harbour has opened up about the lighthearted chaos behind the scenes of Stranger Things, recalling how the younger cast’s carefree energy often turned filming into unexpectedly comedic moments.

The 51-year-old actor, who plays Jim Hopper in the hit Netflix series, said he was initially struck by how relaxed and natural the younger stars were on set during the show’s early seasons.

Speaking at an event in Los Angeles, Harbour praised the dynamic shared by cast members, including Millie Bobby Brown, Finn Wolfhard, and Sadie Sink, describing them as grounded despite the show’s massive global success.

“These kids were just enjoyable as hell,” he said. “A lot of kid actors can be very actor-y, but these guys were just kids at heart.”

Harbour added that their relaxed attitude sometimes led to unplanned humour during filming, joking that even takes could be interrupted by unexpected antics on set.

“Even during takes, they would… do things you just couldn’t believe,” he said with a laugh. “I would dream of being able to do that and not be self-conscious in front of a camera.”

Despite the humour, Harbour said his experience working with the young cast remains one of the most meaningful periods of his career.

He described the show’s first season as a “miraculous time,” noting that the strong off-screen bond helped him navigate his character’s more emotionally intense storylines.

The Hellboy actor also admitted that, while he is proud of the series’ success, he does not always view it uncritically, saying he can be “very critical” of episodes and occasionally gets frustrated when he feels certain parts miss the mark.

Stranger Things, one of Netflix’s biggest global hits, continues to build anticipation as it moves toward its final season, with its ensemble cast now spanning nearly a decade of storytelling.