Actors have to be careful when they are involved with high-profile films and TV shows. Their words are scrutinized by the press and the public for any hidden meanings and spilling the wrong beans could seriously deflate any suspense or surprises in the finished product. And David Harbour, star of Netflix’s ‘Stranger Things’, admits he is one of the biggest (inadvertent) blabbermouths on the set.
Appearing on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’, he discussed spoiling the revelation that Sean Astin was playing Joyce Byers’ (Winona Ryder) boyfriend Bob in season two and the reprimanding her got from Netflix:
“I’m kind of notorious for just giving away entire seasons and stuff. You know, I think it’s the kind of stuff that I thought were self-evident. Like, I said something last year about Winona having this boyfriend, which wound up being this Bob character, played by Sean Astin, that apparently was not public knowledge. And then I get these very disappointed calls from Ted Sarandos [Netflix’s chief content officer] and just Netflix executives. They’re not angry, they’re just like ‘Oh, David.’ Just like your dad. ‘We’re disappointed.'”
Last year, one of the show’s co-creators, Matt Duffer announced that Harbour had been singled out to be cut off from any juicy details of upcoming episodes.
“We can’t tell David anything anymore. He’s cut off. He tweets it, he puts it on Instagram, he tells every journalist he can find…I’m not telling him anything.”
Well, to take the pressure off Harbour, here’s what we know about ‘Stranger Things 3’ so far.
- There will be no new ‘Stranger Things’ this year. Look for Season 3 to premiere sometime in 2019.
- ‘Stranger Things 3’ will consist of eight episodes (the same as Season 1, but one shy of season 2 which had nine episodes). The creators and crew start with four scripts and write the rest after production has begun, in order to adapt to unforeseen circumstances. (See “Dad Steve” below.) Just like in the past, the Duffer Brothers will direct the first two episodes, while Shawn Levy will tackle episodes three and four.
- After struggling to find a storyline for Steve (Joe Keery) in Season Two, the creators threw him together with Dustin (Gaten Matarazzo) and “Dad Steve” was born. Expect that to continue to be Steve’s trajectory in upcoming episodes. As Levy said “We’ll definitely get to see some more of Steve Harrington in Season 3, and I’ll just say we won’t be abandoning the Dad Steve magic.”
- Perpetual victim Will is going to have an easier go of things. Levy said “We’re going to give Will a break. We’re not going to put Will through hell for a third season in a row. He’ll be dealing with stuff, but he won’t be at rock-bottom the way we forced the amazing Noah Schnapp to play.”
- Priah Ferguson, who became a fan favorite in ‘Stranger Things 2′ as Lucas’ sister Erica, is being bumped up to recurring, so get ready for more eye-rolling and sass.
There are two new girls. Francesca Reale (right) joins as Heather, “a popular lifeguard at the Hawkins community pool.” (Shades of Wendy Peppercorn?)- Maya Thurman-Hawke (daughter of Uma Thurman and Ethan Hawke) will play Robin, an “alternative girl… bored with her mundane day job. She seeks excitement in her life and gets more than she bargained for when she uncovers a dark secret in Hawkins, Ind.”
- Cary Elwes joins as a character that he described as Hawkins Mayor Larry Kline, “handsome, slick, and sleazy… your classic ’80s politician — more concerned with his own image than with the people of the small town he governs.”
- Jake Busey is also joining the cast as Bruce a reporter for The Hawkins Post, with “questionable morals and a sick sense of humor.”
- Season 3 is set one year after Season 2, meaning 1985– the year ‘Back to the Future’ was released. Just as with ‘Ghostbusters’ in ‘Stranger Things 2’, expect the kids to reference this pop culture classic.
- As teased in the final shot of season two, the Mind Flayer is still out there and will return. As the Duffer Brothers said “They’ve shut the door on the Mind Flayer, but not only is it still there in the Upside Down, it’s very much aware of the kids, and particularly Eleven. It had not encountered her and her powers until that final episode. Now, it knows that she’s out there.”
Check back for more news as it develops… just don’t expect any updates from David Harbour.
