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Saturday Night Live: Pete Davidson asks David Harbour if Chief Hopper is still alive during Stranger Things skit

Character's fate remains uncertain after the final episode of the third season

Roisin O'Connor
Sunday 13 October 2019 11:06 BST
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Pete Davidson returns to SNL for David Harbour’s ‘Stranger Things’ monologue

Pete Davidson quizzed Stranger Things star David Harbour about the fate of his character Chief Hopper, on the latest episode of Saturday Night Live.

Davidson returned to the show this weekend after missing the first two episodes of the 45th season – reportedly to film scenes for the Suicide Squad prequel – where he encountered Harbour, who hosted the latest episode, during a Stranger Things-themed skit.

Davidson then asked Harbour if his character, Chief Hopper, really died at the end of the third season.

“I’m not exactly authorised — just watch the show, you’ll find out next season,” Harbour stammered.

In the final episode of season three of Stranger Things, fans were at first led to believe that Chief Hopper died sacrificing himself to save the fictional town of Hawkins, Indiana.

However, a post-credits scene showed a Russian prison and a guard muttering “not the American” when deciding with another guard which prisoner to take away.

A hugely popular fan theory believes that the American they refer to is Chief Hopper, who was captured by Russians at the facility in Hawkins before it was stormed by the FBI.

Harbour and the other cast members have refused to confirm or deny whether Hopper survived since the final episode of season three aired. The most recent teaser added to the theory with the tagline: “We’re not in Hawkins anymore.” Fans believe this means Eleven and the gang will travel to Russia to save Hopper.

Series creators the Duffer brothers also recently alluded that Hopper might be alive, in an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers.

Back in the Studio 8H version of the Upside Down on SNL, Beck Bennett was attacked by a Demogorgon, while Harbour discovered Aidy Bryant tied to a wall.

“Barb, are you OK?” Harbour asked. Although Bryant corrected him, she did need help. “I won’t forget about you, Barb!” Harbour yelled, wandering off.

You can find everything you need to know about the real Stranger Things and its forthcoming season 4, here.

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