David Harbour’s Chief Jim Hopper became one of the defining characters in Stranger Things, but the role was not originally written with Harbour in mind. The Duffer Brothers have now revealed that Billy Crudup was their first choice for the part before Harbour stepped in and made Hopper his own.
The disclosure came during a new conversation on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused, where the podcast host read a question from Harbour about how he landed the role. Harbour joked that he was “pretty sure” he was second choice, while also asking who turned the job down before the casting shifted in his favor.
Billy Crudup Was the First Name on the List
Matt Duffer said the original choice was Crudup, not Josh Brolin, which Horowitz had guessed based on Brolin’s friendship with Harbour. He added that Crudup declined the part, noting that “everything happens for a reason” and suggesting the casting path only made sense in hindsight.
The brothers also pointed out that Crudup was not heavily involved in television at the time. Today, that has changed, with Crudup now a series regular on Apple TV’s The Morning Show and a two-time Emmy winner for the show.
How Harbour Won Over the Creators
Ross Duffer said Harbour came in after one of the casting directors suggested he could be right for Hopper. When the team watched the audition tape, they did not need much time to decide.
According to Ross Duffer, Harbour delivered just one take that made the choice obvious. He said the creators were not even present for the read, but the tape made it instantly clear that Harbour was “Hopper,” leading them to cast him on the spot.
Harbour’s performance helped turn Hopper into a central figure in Hawkins, Indiana, as the character evolved into a surrogate father to Eleven and a key player in the show’s Upside Down storyline. That arc became one of the emotional anchors of the Netflix series.
Why the Casting Story Matters Now
Stranger Things first became a breakout hit on Netflix in 2016 and later completed its five-season run in 2025. The series collected a dozen Emmy wins during its run and remains part of the awards conversation.
Its success also expanded the franchise beyond the main series, including the animated spinoff Stranger Things: Tales from ‘85, which has already been renewed for a second season. A Broadway prequel production has also been taped for a future feature release, keeping the world of Hawkins active even after the main story ended.
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