Stranger Things Star Charlie Heaton Joins HBO's Industry in Tragic Twist

Heaton's journey from the Upside Down to the high-stakes world of finance drama Industry proved bittersweet.

Published on Feb. 19, 2026

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Charlie Heaton, known for his role in the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, recently joined the cast of the critically acclaimed HBO drama Industry for its fourth season. Heaton's new character, Jim Dycker, was introduced as a finance journalist investigating high-level fraud, but his story took a tragic turn when he was found dead on the couch after a drug bender with the show's character Rishi, played by Sagar Radia. Rishi, whose life is already in turmoil, decides to join Jim in the afterlife but ultimately survives the fall from his balcony and is taken away by the police.

Why it matters

Heaton's transition from the supernatural world of Stranger Things to the high-stakes finance drama of Industry highlights the versatility of the actor and the challenges faced by performers when joining an established cast. The tragic twist of his character's death also underscores the show's exploration of the dark side of the finance industry and the personal costs associated with the pursuit of wealth and power.

The details

Heaton had just wrapped up his work on Stranger Things when he received the call that he had booked the role on Industry. The actor had to quickly familiarize himself with the show's tone and jargon-heavy dialogue, which he found particularly challenging. Heaton's audition process involved reading the final scene of his character, which contained a drug-fueled confrontation with Rishi. This proved to be a harrowing experience, but Heaton's frustrated performance ultimately landed him the part. The actor's journey with the character began at the end, as he shot the death scene first, before working backwards to establish Jim's character and motivations.

  • Heaton was in Atlanta, Georgia, packing up after wrapping Stranger Things when he received the call that he had booked the role on Industry.
  • Heaton flew from Atlanta to Cardiff, Wales, to begin filming on Industry just three days later, on a Monday.

The players

Charlie Heaton

An English actor known for his role as Jonathan Byers in the Netflix series Stranger Things, who joined the cast of Industry for its fourth season.

Jim Dycker

Heaton's character on Industry, a finance journalist investigating high-level fraud.

Rishi

A character on Industry played by Sagar Radia, who is involved in a drug-fueled confrontation with Jim Dycker that leads to Jim's death.

Konrad Kay

One of the creators of the HBO series Industry.

Mickey Down

One of the creators of the HBO series Industry.

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What they’re saying

“In the beginning, because it was coming around so fast, I was reading and reading and reading and going over all my lines almost mechanically. I knew I had to know that dialogue inside and out. Even if I didn't fully understand the whole time what I was saying [I just needed to get it down]. And the anxiety … I had just finished Stranger Things. I've been on that show since the very beginning, and I've experienced people coming into the show and what that feels like. But I've never done that myself, where you're joining in an established cast. So it was a new experience.”

— Charlie Heaton, Actor (The Hollywood Reporter)

“It's like unveiling the onion. It's so telling as to where this person is going to go when things go wrong. In life when things go wrong, that's when you really find out people's character. And it is tragic. It's sad. They're so good at pushing these characters to the wire.”

— Charlie Heaton, Actor (The Hollywood Reporter)

What’s next

Heaton is excited to see what the Duffer Brothers do next, even outside of the Stranger Things franchise, as the cast processes the end of the beloved series.

The takeaway

Charlie Heaton's transition from the supernatural world of Stranger Things to the high-stakes finance drama of Industry showcases the actor's versatility and the challenges faced by performers when joining an established cast. The tragic twist of his character's death underscores the show's exploration of the personal costs associated with the pursuit of wealth and power.