Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard was ‘considering not acting’ before decisive audition

Wolfhard has played Mike Wheeler for three seasons now, with a fourth one in the works

Finn Wolfhard came close to quitting acting shortly before his life-changing audition for Stranger Things.

The actor, who has played Mike Wheeler for three seasons of the hit Netflix show, recounted in a new interview with The Guardian how he scored the role at a critical moment in his budding career.

At the time, Wolfhard, who was 13 when Stranger Things started airing, had just had to give up on a planned film part that had fallen through. He was planning on pursuing a career as a director instead of acting.

When the Stranger Things audition came up, Wolfhard said he was “sick in bed and almost considering not even acting”.

Nonetheless, he sent a tape and caught the eye of brothers Matt and Ross Duffer, who direct the series – and the rest was history.

Wolfhard, now 17, is set to reprise his role as Wheeler for a fourth season, which has been delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.

Before the crisis, he had travelled to Atlanta, Georgia, to begin filming, but production had to pause once much of the US entered lockdown.

Wolfhard also reflected on growing up as a child star, telling the publication he feels he has had a different experience than those rising to fame at a young age in the Nineties.

“Because there are so many rules to keep children safe now, you know? Ask my co-stars,” he said.

“None of us have ever been in the position where, like, we’re at an uncomfortable party being served drinks… Don’t get me wrong, it happens. It depends on the person. But the environment I’ve grown up in has been very positive.”