WOODBRIDGE, New Jersey — David Harbour stunned onlookers with a dramatic transformation while filming the upcoming true-crime biopic Evil Genius, directed by Courteney Cox. The 50-year-old actor, fresh off the November 6 premiere of Stranger Things Season 5 in Los Angeles, was spotted on the New Jersey set looking almost unrecognizable.

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Harbour’s Radical Look

In photos from the set on November 10, Harbour sported graying hair, a fluffy gray beard, and a blue short-sleeved button-down shirt layered under denim overalls. The outfit included a padded suit, giving the actor a bulkier appearance as he embodied Brian Douglas Wells, the ill-fated pizza deliveryman at the center of the infamous 2003 “pizza bomber” bank heist.

Harbour also appeared in a brown jacket and glasses in certain shots, showcasing the level of detail being applied to recreate Wells’ appearance for the film.

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The Story Behind Evil Genius

Evil Genius dramatizes the complex and tragic case of Brian Douglas Wells, who died in 2003 during a bank robbery in Erie, Pennsylvania, when a collar bomb strapped to his neck detonated. Wells consistently maintained that he was coerced into the crime, claiming he was forced to walk into the bank and demand $250,000.

The narrative film is inspired by the 2018 Netflix documentary Evil Genius: The True Story of America’s Most Diabolical Bank Heist, and Cox, 61, is both directing and producing the project. The screenplay, written by Courtenay Miles, aims to explore the darkly fascinating story of manipulation, crime, and the human lives affected by it.

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Star-Studded Cast

In addition to Harbour, the film features Patricia Arquette, Michael Chernus, Garret Dillahunt, Danielle Macdonald, Tom McCarthy, Gregory Alan Williams, Ryan Eggold, Owen Teague, and Harlow Jane. Cox has described the story as “stranger than fiction,” blending moments of dark humor with deeply emotional human experiences.

“It’s a story about love, loneliness, manipulation, and the people on the fringes who get pulled into something much bigger than themselves,” Cox told Deadline.

Harbour, known for his versatility in roles such as Jim Hopper in Stranger Things and the lead in Thunderbolts, is reportedly bringing a meticulous physical and emotional transformation to the character, highlighting his commitment to authenticity in portraying Wells.

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Harbour’s Recent Work and Upcoming Projects

Harbour transitioned directly from promoting the final season of Stranger Things to the Evil Genius set. At the Los Angeles premiere on November 6, he wore a pinstriped suit and mustache, a stark contrast to his graying, rugged look as Wells.

Beyond Evil Genius, Harbour has several major projects lined up:

• GOAT, an animated film releasing February 13, 2026
• Violent Night 2, hitting theaters December 4, 2026
• Avengers: Doomsday, scheduled for December 18, 2026

The release date for Evil Genius has not yet been announced, but anticipation is high among fans of true-crime stories and Harbour’s transformative performances.