The “Stranger Things” star exited the project, which began filming in October.

Will Arnett replaces David Harbour in Pedro Pascal movie from Andor creator

The "Stranger Things" star exited the project, which began filming in October.

By Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre

Mekishana Pierre is a news writer at **. She has been working at EW since 2025. Her work has previously appeared on *Entertainment Tonight* and Popsugar.

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January 8, 2026 11:01 a.m. ET

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Will Arnett; David Harbour. Credit:

Cindy Ord/Getty; Earl Gibson III/Deadline via Getty

Will Arnett will fill David Harbour's shoes after the *Stranger Things* star backed out of director Tony Gilroy's upcoming drama, * *has confirmed.

Habour's reason for leaving the project has not been disclosed, but his decision to step away from it came after the actor wrapped an intensive press tour for the fifth and final season of Netflix's 10-year sci-fi saga, on which the actor played the role of Hawkins sheriff Jim Hopper.

Arnett will take over Harbour's role, starring alongside Pedro Pascal, with a cast that also includes Olivia Wilde, Eva Victor, Matthew Lillard, Margarita Levieva, and Alexa Swinton.

Pedro Pascal and Olivia Wilde in 2023.

Randy Shropshire/Getty

The film, titled *Behemoth, *began production in October and is Gilroy's first major project since he wrapped last year's *Andor *season 2. The series prequel to 2016's *Rogue One: A Star Wars Story* dropped its second and final season on Disney+ last April and earned Gilroy an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Drama Series, as well as wins for its production design, writing, editing, costumes, and special visual effects.

While Searchlight Pictures has kept the synopsis for *Behemoth *under wraps, the project's IMDB profile says it will follow a musician, played by Pascal, who comes from a family of musicians and returns to Los Angeles. The film is reportedly "a love letter to the music of the movies and the people who make it."

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Gilroy is directing from his own script and producing alongside Sanne Wohlenberg and John Gilroy (*Andor*). Production on the film began in late October, but Arnett's recasting should not delay its wrap date, multiple outlets report.

Tony Gilroy in 2025.

The project seems to be inspired by Gilroy's musical background. "I was a musician when I was young. I really was serious about it for a while... When we get to the scoring, it's my happiest place," he said in an interview with *Variety* last May. "So I came up with a movie about a symphonic cellist who returns to L.A. to do session work."

"The whole movie is told through the [music] cues," he added. "The cues trigger flashbacks over the last 20 years that tell you why he left and why he's come back. It's a movie that surfs on music."

How 'Stranger Things' ends: The fates of the Hawkins gang revealed

'Andor' creator Tony Gilroy explains that surprise ending and final shot

Arnett's casting in *Behemoth* marks another departure from his largely comedic filmography. The actor is best known for his parts on TV comedies like *Arrested Development, 30 Rock, *and *BoJack Horseman,* but his latest role is that of budding stand-up comedian who has recently split from his wife in the critically acclaimed, Bradley Cooper–directed dramedy *Is This Thing On.***

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