Cooper Raiff Reflects on Script and Casting for Hal & Harper

Cooper Raiff always envisioned himself as one of the siblings in Hal & Harper. But he recently admitted that he never quite got that chance in his previous projects.

“I discovered I was Hal,” he shared during a Zoom interview. “Not sure why, but something just drew me to play Hal. I realized he was a college senior, so I had to jump in quickly; otherwise, he might feel too old.”

Lili Reinhart was also a key figure in the casting process, being the first choice for the role of Harper, according to director Reiff.

“Harper lived in my mind for about five years before I thought, hey, I need to cast her,” he recalled. “I wasn’t looking for someone who just looked like Harper. I needed depth, someone I could follow into the darker aspects of the story. When I watched Lili’s work and her interviews, I knew she was Harper.”

The series tells the story of two brothers who experience the loss of their mother, with unique flashbacks showing younger versions of themselves alongside real kids. Reinhart noted the show focused on their journeys as children affecting their adult lives, a process that felt quite unconventional. “I mean, it definitely pushed me outside my comfort zone,” she confessed.

“It’s not that I don’t like kids; they just make me awkward,” she said, acknowledging that the kids seemed puzzled by her presence. “Thank goodness, I wasn’t as outgoing when Harper was nine, otherwise I wouldn’t know how to connect with these kids naturally.”

Reinhart reflected that feeling uncomfortable and out of place mirrored her character’s struggles. “It wasn’t light-hearted, but it was fun in its own way. I did feel a bit anxious filming scenes with the kids because I felt so out of my element.”

Reiff described the experience as “fun” and “interesting,” noting how the casting director, David Rubin, initially sent over many talented young actors. Yet, that wasn’t quite Rife’s vision.

“I asked him, ‘Do you have tapes of younger kids?’ and he replied, ‘Yeah, but they don’t have much energy.’ I said, ‘Send me those,’” he recounted. “When I finally saw some of the auditions, it clicked; that was the essence of the show.”

He compared the story’s tone to observing a “real six-year-old on another planet,” emphasizing moments like a trip to an amusement park that illustrate Hal and Harper’s rapid maturation.

“Hal acts like a typical 7-year-old but is also anxious and unusually observant for his age,” he elaborated. “They aren’t just desperate for connection; they want to simply enjoy time with family and friends, which can be quite poignant. Watching Hal trying to have fun and seeing Harper reclaim some joy is really touching.”

Intriguingly, the father figure, played by Mark Ruffalo, is only referred to as “their father” by the siblings. Life described Ruffalo’s character as someone who grapples with his past failures as a parent while trying to reconnect with his kids.

“He’s beginning to understand the gap between them,” he continued. “By the end, he realizes he’s been struggling to be a father. It’s as if his fixation on Hal and Harper makes it hard to embrace new experiences.”

As for a potential second season, Raiff hinted at plans established earlier this year. He mentioned that Harper might find what she needs in London, while Hal will embark on his own journey. “I imagine they’ll be apart and grow as individuals.”

“Honestly, I think Season 2 might be a bit dull,” he joked. “One season feels complete.”

“They’re healed!” Reinhart chimed in humorously.

The first season of Hal & Harper is currently available for streaming.