David Harbour Drew Inspiration From E.T. For His We Have A Ghost Character

Exclusive: David Harbour breaks down how E.T. helped him craft his character and performance as Ernest the Ghost in Netflix’s We Have A Ghost.

David Harbour reveals how E.T. helped him craft his character, Ernest the Ghost, in We Have A Ghost. Harbour stars as the titular ghost in the Netflix movie, a ghost haunting the house that a new family moves into. Ernest fails to scare them away and instead bonds with Kevin, the youngest of the two teenage sons. Kevin works to help Ernest discover the truth about his past while his family capitalizes on a viral video of Ernest that gains the attention of the CIA.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant, Harbour explained the challenges of playing a character who doesn’t speak in We Have A Ghost. He shareed why he looked to E.T. for inspiration when bringing Ernest to life through his expressive performance. Harbour also gave new insight into how he crafted the character of Ernest, including how he is alien to the world around him.

David Harbour: I was scared because he doesn’t have any lines, right? So it’s like, “How are you going to reveal this guy?” But I thought a lot about that movie E.T., and how expressive that little alien was with just a little finger and a puppet. And there’s something about the simplicity and the stillness of Ernest that I found really profound. And the fact that there is all this cacophony around him of this TikTok world and this family who’s somewhat disjointed and disconnected.

He’s this old guy who’s been forgotten, who lives in the walls, who has this deep secret. There was something about that really guided me about this other factor. He was alien to this world; he was uncomfortable with it. And there was something about that, that I really latched onto and that allowed me a real focus.

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How David Harbour’s Career Has Evolved From Stranger Things To We Have A Ghost

Harbour faced a unique challenge with Ernest needing to bring charm and pathos to a character who never says a single word. Taking his cues from the puppet’s performance in E.T. is a brilliantly insightful decision because audiences instantly connected with and cared about that character. Harbour’s performance as Ernest taps into his comedic skills and his ability to emote through only his physicality, making his character sympathetic without saying a single word.

Harbour has been a working actor for a number of years, but he rose to prominence after being cast as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things, which showed off his range through comedy, drama, action, and horror. He recently joined the MCU as Red Guardian in Black Widow and will reprise the role in the upcoming Thunderbolts movie. Harbour has also gained acclaim as Santa Claus in the Christmas action movie Violent Night.

Stranger Things allowed Harbour to show off his impressive range as an actor and his ability to lead a series with a large ensemble cast. His career has continued to grow, with each role showcasing different skills through comedy, action, and drama. We Have A Ghost shows a new side of Harbour as he pulls off a truly impressive performance that tugs at the heartstrings without relying on dialogue. His ability to find the connection with his character, whether a ghost who can’t speak, a Santa Claus who kicks ass, or a washed-up super soldier, is what brings heart and authenticity to each of his performances.

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