Notably known for his performance in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket (1987), actor Matthew Modine appeared in Duffer Brothers’ Stranger Things and gave a prominent shape to the story. Playing the role of Dr Martin Brenner, the sinister scientist in the Netflix series, Modine starred alongside Millie Bobby Brown.
During his 2022 interview with The Guardian, the actor revealed how he avoided the Duffer Brothers, but was eventually dragged into the series alongside the now prominent child actors. But surprisingly, although Matthew Modine initially avoided his role, he eventually ended up dedicating himself to protecting Millie Bobby Brown, quite unlike his character.
Matthew Modine Refused To Appear in Stranger Things
There’s no denying that the Duffer Brothers had a stellar cast for their Netflix series Stranger Things. But surprisingly, a few of them initially refused to join the show. According to a 2022 interview with The Guardian, Matthew Modine who played the role of the sinister scientist, Dr Martin Brenner, revealed how he initially passed on the role.
“I didn’t want to do it. The Duffer Brothers kept saying: “Oh he’s going to be really important.” They never told me he was kidnapping children.”
Actor Matthew Modine has been a legendary Hollywood star, following his appearance in Stanley Kubrick’s Full Metal Jacket (1987). However, after working with such acclaimed filmmakers, Modine initially refused to feature in the Netflix series. But eventually, he mentioned how the Duffer Brothers influenced him to join the show.
“I passed, but they kept ringing me up and made it really difficult for me to say no. I responded to their passion and he became a really interesting, complex character.”
Joining the cast of Stranger Things, Matthew Modine certainly turned into a pop culture icon, who wreaked havoc on the town of Hawkins. Turning into a titular character who nurtured Eleven’s (Millie Bobby Brown) telekinetic powers, Modine became a prominent antagonist of the show. But there’s more that gave him purpose while shooting.
Matthew Modine Was Dedicated Towards Millie Bobby Brown
According to his interview with The Guardian, the actor revealed how he was drawn to the cast after he met the young actors. But strangely enough, he was amazed by the lead actress Millie Bobby Brown, who was only 11 years old when she first appeared. Discussing how he felt quite protective of her, Matthew Modine admitted dedicating himself towards her.
“My desire was to protect her. When I was a young actor, if you had a show that was successful in 20 or 30 territories around the world, that would be unbelievable. Netflix is in more than 190 territories. What Millie and her generation have been exposed to through streaming is a kind of celebrity and power and reach that’s bigger than anything in the entertainment industry before.”
Stating his reasons, the actor confessed the atrocities he faced when he initially started as a young actor in the entertainment industry. Discussing how often young stars fall prey to the glitz and glam of Tinseltown, Matthew Modine mentioned why exactly he wanted to protect Millie Bobby Brown.
“The adoration and the love are not real, it’s for something that you’ve created and it can be devastating.”
In the end, although Matthew Modine initially avoided the Duffer Brothers and their offer to appear in Stranger Things, he eventually ended up loving his experience. Further, he also felt the urge to protect Millie Bobby Brown from the devastating effects of fame, quite unlike his onscreen character who nurtured and utilized Eleven’s powers for his own benefit.
Stranger Things is streaming on Netflix.
Source: The Guardian
