Stranger Things’ David Harbour teases epic Hopper resurrection after connecting with daughter ‘in afterlife’

JIM Hopper’s fate has been the biggest talking point of Stranger Things since the season 3 finale.

The Netflix sci-fi series is set to return later this year after a cliff-hanger ending saw everyone’s favourite small town cop caught up in an explosion.

However there have been numerous clues since then that the character somehow survived the blast, with a post-credits scene revealing the Russians are holding someone called ‘The American’ captive.

While the identity of the mystery prisoner remains up in the air, Hopper actor David Harbour has spoken out about his character’s uncertain fate.

He spoke about Hopper’s sacrifice in the context of redemption and re-connection with his late daughter.

“One way it could be viewed is he has to die to make it up to [his daughter] Sara and see her in the afterlife,” he told latimes.com.

However, he also teased the comeback of a very different Hopper.

“The other view is that because of this newfound relationship with Eleven [Millie Bobby Brown], he needs to shed his skin, make a sacrifice that allows his character to re-emerge,” he continued.

“He was finally able to really take a bullet for a child, which he had never been able to do because Sara died of cancer. I think there’s a perfection to it.”

Nonetheless, he conceded that since he’d had such an amazing time on the show, he had a personal interest in Hopper’s survival.

“Now whether or not there’s some sort of second-act resurrection would be very interesting to me, clearly, for obvious reasons,” he went on.

“The fact that I desperately love the show and desperately love the character… but that remains to be seen - he would certainly have to emerge a different individual.”

Harbour’s comments come amid reports Stranger Things has started shooting season 4 in the same Lithuanian prison as acclaimed Sky drama Chernobyl.

Stranger Things seasons 1-3 are available to stream on Netflix.