It’s hard to imagine any changes to the “Stranger Things” cast after they embodied those characters for a decade, but series creators The Duffer Brothers have revealed that Billy Crudup (Alien: Covenant, Watchmen) was their original pick to play Chief Jim Hopper.
During a recent live interview with Happy Sad Confused, Hopper actor David Harbour appeared via video to ask the “Stranger Things” creators about their first choice for the role.
“It was Billy Crudup,” Matt Duffer divulged. “Everything happens for a reason, right? So it’s like, once it kind of clicks into place. But, yeah, Billy Crudup passed. I don’t think he was doing much TV at the time. Now he’s doing ‘Morning Show.'”
Ross Duffer added, “Honestly, [David] just came in and one of our casting directors thought he could be great for the role. He came and read. He just did one take. We weren’t even there, we just saw the tape, and it was just so clear, instantly: this is Hopper. And we just cast him right then and there.”
“Stranger Things,” which ran on Netflix for five seasons between 2016 and 2025, turned Harbour from a character actor into a leading man.
Harbour can next be seen in Violent Night 2, in theaters December 4, and Avengers: Doomsday, out December 18. His upcoming projects include John Rambo and A Head Full of Ghosts, both in post-production.
