David Harbour And Ryan Reynolds Bonded Over Their Superhero Box Office Bombs
David Harbour has enjoyed a lot of success from his role as Chief Jim Hopper in "Stranger Things." From the moment he was introduced, Harbour infused the character with a sense of lovability that made him an instant fan-favorite.
But while Hopper gave Harbour a level of stardom that afforded him roles in big productions that turned out well, like "Black Widow," it also produced some flops — namely his first big movie lead in 2019's "Hellboy." The film, a reboot of the Guillermo del Toro superhero movies based on Mike Mignola's Dark Horse Comics character of the same name, was panned by critics and fans and failed to make a big impression.
The film faced an uphill battle the moment it was announced, and Harbour would later blame the film's failure on fans angry about a reboot.
Speaking to GQ UK, Harbour opened up about his failed superhero movie and knowing it wouldn't be an easy experience from the get-go.
"It was a very difficult experience because I wanted a lot out of it. I really like [Mike Mignola], I like that character," Harbour said. "And then immediately when it began, even when it was announced, I realized that people did not want that character reinvented. I was very naïve and optimistic about what we were going to do."
On the day "Hellboy" opened, Harbour tried to get some advice on how to handle a big project bombing. Who do you call for advice in that situation? Why, Ryan Reynolds, of course!
'Am I going to be okay?'
As Harbour tells it:
"I know him a little bit. I called him and I was like, Hey man, I just need to know something. You know 'Green Lantern?' Huge flop for you. What the f*** is that like, because I think I'm going to hit that right now. Am I gonna be okay? Am I gonna survive this?"
This has us thinking: Is there some sort of Rolodex of actors other actors can approach for advice in very specific and niche situations like this? Is there a club for actors whose big superhero break failed miserably? Do Halle Berry, Jennifer Garner, Miles Teller, and Edward Norton get together every weekend, swap horror stories and welcome in new members like Jared Leto?
What did Harbour and Reynolds even talk about? Did Reynolds use "Deadpool" as a silver lining of superhero second chances that Harbour could one day get? Did they joke about making "Deadpool 3" revolve around a group of superhero losers trying to get a second chance at life? Who knows, but I'd love to find out.