The Duffer brothers are notorious for sprinkling old classic references and taking inspiration from characters that brought joy to many childhoods throughout Stanger Things. One intriguing nugget centers around David Harbour’s portrayal of Hopper. While some viewers managed to deduce the connection early on, others found themselves unable to precisely pinpoint the source of the character’s comforting familiarity that seemed to traverse generations. Thus, in an interview, the Duffer brothers, at last, revealed that Dr. Jones was indeed the driving force behind the creation of Hopper.
It is no doubt that Hoppe is one of the most favorite characters from the hit series, and has his own cult of loyal followers. Thus, it all makes sense now, the iconic fedora, and the love for adventures, all make Hopper a worthy follower of the Harrison Ford character and a certified fan favorite.
Stranger Things Creators Revealed The True Inspiration Behind David Harbour’s Hopper
The lovably goofy and super-protective dad all root for, got a bit of a boost from an old buddy to become the awesome character he is now. The masterminds behind Stranger Things, Matt and Ross Duffer, spilled the beans that they shaped David Harbour‘s Hopper, the fan-favorite, with a dash of Indiana Jones. It was their way of making him more relatable to the crowd. While Dr. Jones wasn’t the sole muse, he sure left a mark. Thus, in an interview, the Duffer brothers stated,
“David was upset because, in season 2, he didn’t get to punch anybody. And so in season 3 there’s a ton of Hopper punching people. David is really good at capturing the Harrison Ford essence. Not many modern actors are able to do it, aside from Harrison Ford, of course, who is the one and only Indiana Jones.”
Undoubtedly, this holds true, with Harbour showcasing a talent that’s unmatched. While he initially began as a homage to Jones, Hopper has now evolved into an iconic character cherished by millions worldwide. Thus, once in a while, the creators will throw in some guys hilariously for Hopper to punch to keep the essence alive.
David Harbour Talks About the Harrison Ford-ness of His Character
Amidst all the trials Hopper endures in the Stranger Things saga, he never losses his charm. Yet, Stranger Things 4 saw an entirely uncharted facet of Hopper. As he finds himself stuck in Russian, grappling with the uncertainty of his daughter’s safety and the well-being of the woman he holds dear, Joyce. Reflecting on the latest season, the actor remarked that the essence of the character’s “Ford-ness” was undergoing a transformative evolution. He said,
“This season, and especially the first seven episodes, is his dark night of the Soul, where he is abandoned, alone in a, you know, violent, scary place. And he’s not going to make it at one point. And we’ve seen Hopper amidst all the seasons, amidst all the tragedy that he’s dealt with or all the craziness he’s dealt with. He’s had a certain joie de vivre or a certain, you know, Harrison Ford sort of like carefree-ness to all of it.”
He further continued saying,
“And I think here is a season where we don’t see as much of that. I mean, I really wanted you to see a different layer of him. The layer without skin, you know, who really is the beaten man. And there’s no sort of ironic joy in it. There’s no Harrison Ford anymore. It’s just been stripped away from this brutal environment,”
Hence, the actor conveyed a sense of satisfaction over the fact that viewers were afforded the chance to experience the character authentically, without the need for any veils or pretenses. This shift allowed the audience to delve deeper into the genuine essence of the character, past the masks, and truly appreciate the portrayal in its unfiltered and very vulnerable form. Fans hope the last part of season 4 will also further bring out more such colors from the iconic character.
Source: Slash Films
