STRANGER THINGS Star David Harbour Says He's Keeping His Schedule Open Just In Case He's 'The American'

There has been quite a bit of back and forth where theories are concerned about the identity of "The American" a prisoner revealed to be held captive at the end of Season 3 of Stranger Things.

Fans immediately expected - and hoped - that the character in question was obviously Hopper - who had previously appeared to have perished to save Eleven. Some less-serious theories suggested that the American could be Barb, while more practical fans expect the reveal to be Matthew Modine's Dr. Brenner returning from Season 1.

The actor who plays Hopper, David Harbour, has insisted that he doesn't know whether or not he is "The American" in question, and in a recent interview with The Wrap, he explained a little more as to why that is.

“So [The Duffers] told me the arc of the season, and then I think we got Episode 8 like a couple months before we shot it. And I remember reading that episode, and they hadn’t told me this whole thing about this Russian facility at the end and how that was gonna be the sort of teaser and like ‘The American’ and the Demogorgon. They hadn’t told me about any of that, actually, and I just read it in the script and I thought it was amazing.”

So it looks like the actor read the script and came to his own conclusions, as the Duffers wanted for him, but now he has been left up in the air as to what's actually next for him - seemingly embarrasing him a bit.

“And I really thought I was ‘The American,’ and then I haven’t heard a lot from them (laughs). So I really don’t know if I am. But I thought I was, but it was never discussed. I didn’t ask [The Duffers], ’cause I felt confident I was — and now I’m not so confident.

Harbour makes it clear that even though he is entering the world of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, he is keeping his schedule clear just in case the Duffer Brothers do call him back to play The American on Stranger Things during Season 4.

I’ll tell you this, I don’t have work lined up right now. I am working on a book, so I’m sort of focused on that right now and I don’t really have acting worked lined up. So theoretically, if somebody called me, I could probably get on a plane and do something. My hope is the same as yours. My hope is that there is some sort of resurrection [for Hopper], but I don’t know. I know they haven’t gone into production yet.”

What do you guys think of Harbours comments? Do you hope to see him return to the Upside Down, or would you prefer if he kept making movies such as Hellboy and Black Widow? Be sure to sound off in the comments below!

When the town's threatened by enemies - both old and new, Eleven and her friends are reminded that evil never ends; it evolves. One summer can change everything.

Stranger Things is currently streaming on Netflix.