It’s been a decade since David Harbour first stepped into the role of Chief Jim Hopper on Netflix’s hit show Stranger Things, but now the actor is ready to let go of the badge. After ten years in the role, Harbour admits that it’s getting harder to stay invested in the same storyline. In a conversation with Scarlett Johansson for Interview Magazine, Harbour explained, ‘You get to a certain point where you’re like, ‘How much more story is there?’ It’s a lot of the same beats.’ He continued, ‘I want to take a risk. 
I want to do something that people haven’t seen me do before.’ The actor expressed that after all this time, it’s simply the right time to move on.
Reflecting on his early days in the series, Harbour recalls his deep love for the show and the characters. ‘When I started, I loved it so much,’ he said. ‘Buddies of mine who’d done TV shows for many years told me, ‘By season three or four, you’ll be running.’ And I was like, ‘Never! I love all these guys so much.” It was clear back then that Harbour had a special connection to his co-stars and the series, but as time passed, that bond became more complicated.
Interestingly, Harbour shares a unique connection with Scarlett Johansson, as both actors have had long tenures with massive franchises. While Harbour has been part of the Stranger Things universe since the beginning, he also portrayed the Red Guardian in Black Widow and will reprise the role in Thunderbolts. Johansson echoed Harbour’s sentiments, acknowledging how deeply entwined her identity has become with the Marvel universe, especially when it comes to physical appearance. Harbour, too, feels the weight of playing a character for so long, noting that sometimes, ‘a piece of your psyche is occupied with this group of people and this storyline.’
With the final season of Stranger Things slated to premiere on Netflix on November 26, fans are bracing for the end. The season will be split into two parts, with the first four episodes dropping in November and the final three episodes set to drop on Christmas, followed by the much-anticipated finale on New Year’s Eve.