TOM HOPPER SETS SAIL
The Umbrella Academy Star's Next Ventures
When you look at Tom Hopper, it makes sense that The Umbrella Academy star’s acting inspiration comes from Arnold Schwarenegger.
“The main one would be Terminator 2: Judgment Day,” Hopper told Men’s Health. “I watched it [when I was] quite younger than I should’ve been on VHS over and over again. I was obsessed with Arnie. That’s what started my love of motorbikes as well: Arnie riding around on his Harley.”
Hopper plays strongman Luther Hargreeves aka Spaceboy on Netflix’s hit series The Umbrella Academy. For the series, Hopper dons a muscle suit to give him that ape-like physiology. But he’s more than just a pretty face on a nice body — his character is loyal to a fault and born to help. He truly is the moral center of the group of seven.
Prior to his role on The Umbrella Academy, Hopper took his breakout role on the BBC show Merlin. But it was playing Billy Bones on Starz’s Black Sails that propelled him to success. The pirate series derived its plot from the famous Treasure Island. Of course it had its own sexy spin, though. Hopper starred valiantly on the series throughout its four seasons. And like most British actors, Hopper appeared on Game of Thrones as Dickon Tarley.
Behind that physique, though, is a strong-willed actor and family man who was inspired by the show Friends to get into the business. Ahead of the season two premiere of The Umbrella Academy, Hopper and his wife opened up about raising their autistic son, showing that there is more than meets the eye with this strongman.
As for his upcoming roles, Hopper is turning away from TV. All of his yet-to-be-released projects are films. He’s set to star alongside Ryan Reynolds, Samuel L. Jackson and Salma Hayek in The Hitman’s Wife’s Bodyguard. But it’s SAS: Red Notice that will put him on the map as a leading man in a movie — just like Arnold.
