David Harbour Exits Andor Creator's Film

David Harbour has dropped out of the upcoming movie Behemoth!, which stars Pedro Pascal, Eva Victor, Olivia Wilde, and Matthew Lillard. The film is directed by Tony Gilroy, the creator of Andor and writer of Rogue One.

The exit is allegedly due to Harbour needing to rest after feeling "overwhelmed" by the conclusion of Stranger Things. The Netflix series wrapped up its final season on New Year's Eve with a two-hour finale.

Harbour has played Jim Hopper on the show for nearly a decade. Reports indicate that the intense press scrutiny and the "water cooler" nature of the show's ending contributed to his decision to step away. It is currently unknown who will replace him in the film.

David Harbour has officially exited the cast of Behemoth!, an upcoming drama from Tony Gilroy. The film features a high-profile ensemble cast including Pedro Pascal, Eva Victor, Olivia Wilde, and Matthew Lillard. Harbour's departure is attributed to a need for rest following the demanding conclusion of Stranger Things.

The production of the final season of the Netflix hit was described as a "monthslong episodic rollout" accompanied by intense global attention. Multiple insiders indicated that Harbour felt overwhelmed by the experience and the subsequent press scrutiny. Consequently, he stepped away from the project to recuperate.

The role originally held by Harbour will be recast, though no replacement has been announced yet. Behemoth! marks a significant collaboration for Gilroy, who is known for his work on Andor and Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.

The exit coincides with the conclusion of Stranger Things, which ended on New Year's Eve with a two-hour finale. The episode saw Jim Hopper and the rest of the characters defeat the villain Vecna, bringing an end to a show that began nearly a decade ago.

The series finale was a massive cultural event, closing the door on a story that captivated a huge online fandom. The show's conclusion required a significant emotional investment from its cast, particularly those who had been with the series since its inception.

Following the wrap, Harbour and co-star Millie Bobby Brown appeared at the Season 5 red carpet premiere in November. They posed for photos together but avoided media interviews. This appearance came shortly after reports surfaced regarding alleged "harassment and bullying" complaints, which were denied by representatives for both actors.

David Harbour has been vocal about his desire to evolve beyond his role as Jim Hopper. In a conversation with Scarlett Johansson for Interview Magazine in June, Harbour expressed readiness to move on. "You get to a certain point where you’re like, 'How much more story is there?'" Harbour said. "And there’s a feeling where you’re like, 'I want to take a risk. I want to do something that people haven’t seen me do before.' So yeah, after 10 years, it’s like, 'Okay.'"

Two years prior, Harbour discussed the difficulty of balancing his love for the show with his desire for variety. He compared his situation to George Clooney's time on ER, noting that Clooney was once just "the guy from ER." Harbour stated, "I don’t want to be just that character. I don’t want to be just that guy."

He added, "I got more in me. I got different stuff in me, and I want you guys to see that. I don’t want people yelling ‘Hopper’ on the street every five minutes the rest of my life." Despite stepping away from Behemoth!, Harbour remains active in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, having starred in Thunderbolts* and set to reprise his role as Alexei Shostakov / Red Guardian in Avengers: Doomsday this December.