Joe Keery honors his Steve Harrington legacy—calling the role “a gift”—while launching his Djo music project and pursuing diverse new acting roles.
Joe Keery, who has inhabited the role of Steve Harrington for nearly a third of his life, describes playing the iconic Hawkins hero as “a gift” and admits he’d be “okay” if it remained the role that defines him.
As production on Stranger Things’ fifth and final season wrapped in December 2024, Keery confessed he’s already feeling a wave of nostalgia for the character who helped launch his career. Now, freed from the upside-down demands of Hawkins, he’s poised to explore new creative avenues—releasing music under the name Djo and hunting for acting parts that stretch far beyond Bat Boys and Demogorgons.
On a recent episode of the Zach Sang Show, Keery reflected on inhabiting Steve Harrington, calling it “an insane ride” and likening it to “a once-in-a-lifetime thing”. He confessed that “part of me… is like ‘No, I’m more than just that,’” yet emphasized he’s “kind of okay” with being forever associated with the character who propelled him into the spotlight.
This evolution echoes the arc praised by critics, who note Steve’s metamorphosis from 1980s jock-jerk to devoted protector—an unexpected shift that cemented Harrington as a breakout hero. Keery framed this enduring connection as a privilege, explaining that one signature success gives him the freedom to “chase the things [he’s] really interested in doing”.
Beyond the set, Keery’s creative ambitions extend into music, where he performs as Djo, crafting alt-pop tracks that resonate with a dedicated fanbase. His single “End of Beginning,” a candid ode to life before Stranger Things, has gone viral on TikTok and surpassed 1.4 billion streams on Spotify—earning nominations at both the Billboard Music Awards and the Brits. Keery’s debut album as Djo, The Crux, released in early April, showcases his range—from infectious hooks to introspective storytelling—and is already slated for live shows in London this June.
Despite his success, Keery admits to wrestling with impostor syndrome—questioning whether he’s truly earned the opportunities that have come his way. He spoke of a “constant battle” of “who am I” when the lines between actor and character begin to blur, underscoring the psychological toll of inhabiting such a defining role.
With production on Stranger Things 5 wrapped last December, Keery revealed that the last day of shooting hit him like “everything really hit” in one emotional wave—an experience he called both cathartic and bittersweet. He told CBS Mornings, “it won’t be easy for [the show] to end,” a sentiment that speaks to the deep camaraderie forged over ten years of shared storytelling.
Looking forward, Keery is already exploring diverse acting projects, teasing that he’s on the hunt for roles that challenge him in new ways—far removed from Hawkins and its monsters. As one of modern TV’s most beloved genre performers, he now stands at a creative crossroads where his next moves will define his trajectory beyond the baseball-bat-wielding antics of Steve Harrington.
source PEOPLE
