David Harbour Stuns Fans with Teased Return in Stranger Things Season 5 – Everything We Know So Far

Actor David Harbour has sent the internet into a fresh frenzy after paparazzi shots from the St. Louis set of HBO’s upcoming limited series “DTF St. Louis” revealed the Stranger Things favorite sporting a convincingly rotund prosthetic belly. In the images, Harbour, 50, shuffles between takes in a khaki tee stretched over the faux paunch, his signature beard dotted with flecks of gray—an unrecognizable look that instantly sparked memes and speculation across X and TikTok. The transformation underscores the actor’s reputation for fearless physical pivots. Fans still remember the 75-pound weight swing he documented while moving from Hopper’s Soviet-gulag gauntness in Stranger Things 4 to the super-soldier bulk of Red Guardian in Marvel’s upcoming Thunderbolts, now slated for July 25, 2025 release. By comparison, the “DTF St. Louis” belly is pure prosthetics—but the viral photos confirm Harbour is once again willing to disappear inside a character. HBO is keeping story details under wraps, yet industry chatter pegs “DTF St. Louis” as a darkly comedic crime saga with echoes of Ozark and Fargo. Harbour’s padded appearance suggests a middle-aged Midwestern anti-hero fans haven’t seen from him before. The internet’s enthusiasm is a boon for HBO, which hasn’t even released a teaser; one Parade headline simply called him “unrecognizable” and predicted the show “could be his wildest turn since Hellboy.” While cameras roll in Missouri, Harbour is juggling post-production ADR for Stranger Things’ supersized fifth and final season, now expected in spring 2026, and Marvel reshoots in Atlanta. Speaking to GQ Hype last month, he admitted the workload feels “like senior year and freshman orientation happening at the same time,” but said he’s motivated by “the rare chance to close one chapter while opening two more.” The same interview also produced headlines for Harbour’s brief comments on rumors of a split from British singer Lily Allen, whom he married in 2020. “People can speculate,” he shrugged, flashing a grin the internet quickly interpreted as both coy and conciliatory. The clip has racked up over six million views on TikTok, with #Hily (Harbour + Lily) trending alongside #FakeBellyHarbour. Social media sentiment is overwhelmingly positive. One fan wrote, “If Harbour can go from Russian prison dad bod to Marvel abs to this St. Louis beer-belly king, give him all the Emmys.” Another added, “He’s our generation’s De Niro—gaining and losing weight like it’s a side quest.” SEO-friendly takeaways for curious readers: • David Harbour’s new look comes from HBO’s “DTF St. Louis,” currently filming in Missouri. • The actor is simultaneously finishing Stranger Things 5 and gearing up for Marvel’s Thunderbolts movie. • Recent GQ Hype comments addressed Lily Allen split rumors but left the relationship status ambiguous. • Viral set photos and memes are driving massive search interest, cementing Harbour as one of 2025’s most talked-about stars. With multiple tent-pole projects, tabloid intrigue, and now a headline-grabbing prosthetic gut, David Harbour shows no sign of leaving the spotlight. If the buzz around “DTF St. Louis” is any indication, the actor’s next metamorphosis could be his most headline-worthy—and SEO-worthy—yet.