Finn Wolfhard Directs George Harrison’s First Music Video, Drops Major ‘Stranger Things 5’ Teases on *Fallon*
From Hawkins to Friar Park: Finn Wolfhard’s Shocking New Directorial Project for a Beatles Legend
In a seismic collision of generational entertainment, Stranger Things star Finn Wolfhard has solidified his transition from acclaimed young actor to serious multi-hyphenate creative force. The 22-year-old actor, musician, and filmmaker has just unveiled a landmark project that has stunned the music world: directing the first-ever official music video for George Harrison’s 1973 solo classic, “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth).” The news, which broke over the past 48 hours and was the centerpiece of Wolfhard’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, is a profound validation of his expanding artistic vision and a testament to his unique standing in the industry.
The release of the stop-motion animated video, coming over five decades after the song first topped the charts, marks a rare and highly sanctioned addition to Harrison’s legendary catalog. This extraordinary collaboration, spearheaded by Harrison’s son, Dhani Harrison, positions Wolfhard not just as a rising star in Hollywood, but as a cultural bridge-builder connecting the spiritual legacy of a Quiet Beatle with the digital-native, Gen Z audience.
The Spiritual Journey of ‘Give Me Love’
The new visual is far from a typical music video; it is a meticulously crafted stop-motion odyssey that pays homage to George Harrison’s profound love for his English estate, Friar Park. Wolfhard, in collaboration with a team of 20 young Canadian stop-motion artists, brought to life a meditative journey through Harrison’s legendary gardens. The video centers on a claymation figure of the late Beatle tending to his garden, interacting with sentient flora, gnomes, and a mystical cave-dwelling creature, all while reflecting the song’s themes of spiritual aspiration and humility.
Speaking about the experience, Wolfhard described the project as a career highlight. “To work with the Harrison family and bring this video to life with a team of incredible young Canadian artists has been a great honour,” he shared. The actor, who was first introduced to Harrison’s music by his mother at the age of six, emphasized the personal impact of the music, stating, “George Harrison has and will continue to be a huge inspiration to me, and his work will live on forever.”
The video’s creation was a genuine passion project, a labor of analog craft in an increasingly digital world. The choice of stop-motion animation, which is inherently time-consuming and precise, mirrors the patience and dedication required for gardening—Harrison’s lifelong devotion at Friar Park. Wolfhard was reportedly first introduced to Dhani Harrison through his Ghostbusters: Frozen Empire co-star Paul Rudd, and later received a random text from Fred Armisen, who had pitched his name to the Harrison estate. This unique Hollywood chain of events led to Wolfhard being cleared to direct a piece of history.
According to Dhani Harrison, the late Beatle would have “loved” the creation. “Finn is one of the sweetest and most talented people I know of his generation, and he is the perfect person to direct a video for my dad. My dad would have loved this, and I hope his wonderful, creative, heartfelt ideas help this song reach another generation.” This seal of approval from the Harrison family underscores the authenticity and reverence Wolfhard brought to the collaboration.
The Tonight Show Deep Dive: ‘Stranger Things’ Teases and Musical Tributes
Wolfhard’s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon served as the perfect launchpad for the music video, but it also provided fans with critical updates on both his burgeoning solo music career and the impending conclusion of the show that made him a global phenomenon: Stranger Things.
The Musical Brotherly Bond with Joe Keery
Beyond the Harrison video, Wolfhard used the platform to shine a light on his own musical influences, singling out his Stranger Things co-star Joe Keery, who plays Steve Harrington. Wolfhard, a musician who previously fronted the band Calpurnia and now leads The Aubreys, credited Keery with fundamentally shaping his musical education.
“Joe is a huge influence for me, and still is. His band’s amazing. He was one of the first people I ever knew that was actually in a band,” Wolfhard told Fallon. He fondly recalled meeting Keery when he was just 12 and Keery was 22, describing him as a “cool, older brother” who was fresh out of a “really cool psych rock band in Chicago.” Keery’s recommendations introduced Wolfhard to a wealth of music that, in his words, “really informed everything,” concluding with a powerful affirmation: “I wouldn’t be here without Joe.”
This tribute highlights the deep, brotherly bonds formed on the set of the Netflix hit and proves that the cast’s creative lives extend far beyond the fictional town of Hawkins. Wolfhard also used the opportunity to perform his latest solo song, “Trailers After Dark,” and showcase the vinyl release of his debut solo album, Happy Birthday, cementing his status as a major player in the indie music scene.
One-Word Clues for the Final Episodes of Stranger Things 5
Perhaps the most anticipated moment for the millions of Stranger Things viewers came when Jimmy Fallon prompted Wolfhard to reprise a tradition from his first Tonight Show appearance: describing the final episodes of the series in a single, spoiler-free word.
Though Stranger Things Season 5, Volume 1 recently premiered, the conversation shifted to the much-anticipated final run of episodes. Wolfhard, who plays Mike Wheeler, offered cryptic but impactful descriptions for the last four installments of the season (Vol. 2).
- Episode 5, “Shock Jock”: “Crispy”
- Episode 6, “Escape From Camazotz”: “Shocking”
- Episode 7, “The Bridge”: “Enlightening”
- Episode 8, “The Rightside Up” (Series Finale): “Emotional”
The descriptions of “Crispy,” “Shocking,” “Enlightening,” and especially the final word, “Emotional,” provide tantalizing teases for a finale that promises to be devastating and transformative. Wolfhard also reflected on his final scene, calling it an “odd thing” and a “big moment of transitioning” away from a show that defined his childhood, reinforcing that the ending was indeed “very emotional” for the entire cast.
A New Era for the Multi-Hyphenate
Finn Wolfhard’s latest flurry of announcements—the George Harrison video, the musical credits to Joe Keery, and the final Stranger Things teases—all serve to underscore one fact: he is deliberately cultivating a post-“Mike Wheeler” career trajectory that goes far beyond acting.
His venture into directing is not new. Wolfhard previously co-wrote and co-directed the 2023 horror-comedy feature Hell of a Summer. He is also currently attached to direct a feature film adaptation of the 2016 Replacements biography, Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements, which he is co-writing with his father, Eric Wolfhard.
By helming a major legacy music project, sharing his solo music, and actively developing his own directorial features, Wolfhard is positioning himself in the mold of modern, boundary-pushing artists who refuse to be confined to a single medium. This move ensures that as the curtain closes on Stranger Things, his creative output is set to only accelerate, making him one of the most exciting young filmmakers and musicians to watch in the coming years. His work on George Harrison’s classic song is not just a tribute to a legend, but a clear sign that a new one is actively forging his own legacy.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q1: What song by George Harrison did Finn Wolfhard direct the music video for?
A: Finn Wolfhard directed the first-ever official music video for George Harrison’s 1973 solo hit, “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth),” which was the lead single from Harrison’s Living in the Material World album.
Q2: What style of animation was used in the George Harrison music video?
A: The music video for “Give Me Love (Give Me Peace on Earth)” was created using intricate stop-motion animation. Wolfhard worked with a team of 20 young Canadian artists to create the visual, which depicts a claymation version of Harrison in his Friar Park garden.
Q3: Which Stranger Things co-star did Finn Wolfhard credit as a major musical influence?
A: Wolfhard credited his Stranger Things co-star Joe Keery (Steve Harrington) as a major influence on his music career, citing Keery’s early involvement in the psych-rock band Post Animal and his solo project, Djo, for introducing him to formative music.
Q4: What one-word teases did Finn Wolfhard give for the final episode of Stranger Things Season 5?
A: On The Tonight Show, Finn Wolfhard offered a one-word tease for the series finale (Stranger Things Season 5, Episode 8, titled “The Rightside Up”), describing it as “Emotional.” He described the preceding episodes as “Crispy,” “Shocking,” and “Enlightening.”
Q5: What is Finn Wolfhard’s next major directorial project?
A: In addition to his music video work, Finn Wolfhard is slated to direct a feature film adaptation of the biography Trouble Boys: The True Story of the Replacements, which he is also co-writing with his father, Eric Wolfhard.
Q6: What is the name of Finn Wolfhard’s solo album?
A: Finn Wolfhard’s debut solo album, which he is currently promoting, is titled Happy Birthday.
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