The Duffer Brothers have disclosed that David Harbour was not their first pick for the role of police chief Jim Hopper in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things. In a recent interview on Josh Horowitz's Happy Sad Confused podcast, creators Matt and Ross Duffer revealed that another actor had turned down the part before Harbour was cast.
Harbour himself addressed the matter in a video question played during the podcast, stating: 'I'm pretty sure I was second choice, and I don't know who I was second choice to. Maybe I was third choice? But would you please answer the question of how I came to be cast as Chief Hopper, and who had to say no to allow me to do that wonderful, incredible role.'
After Horowitz incorrectly guessed Josh Brolin, Matt Duffer clarified: 'No, it was Billy Crudup.' He added: 'Which is a very different — like, 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.'
Ross Duffer explained how Harbour ultimately secured the role: 'And then David just — honestly — he just came in and one of our casting directors thought he could be great for the role. But he came and read and he just did one take. We weren't even there; we just saw the tape, and it was so clear, instantly: This is Hopper. And we just cast him right then and there.'
Following his decision to turn down Stranger Things, Billy Crudup went on to star in Apple TV's Emmy-winning series The Morning Show alongside Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon. Harbour, meanwhile, played Hopper across all five seasons of the Netflix series, a role that launched his career and made him an internationally recognised star.
