‘Stranger Things’ Season 4: Before Jamie Campbell Bower’s Key Role, He Was a Vampire and Shadowhunter
Actor Jamie Campbell Bower has become Stranger Things Season 4 Volume I’s newest bad guy with a dark past. The actor plays the mysterious role of the kind caregiver known as Peter Ballard. But as his story progresses, his kindness turns into a horror story as he is revealed to be Henry Creel, aka Vecna. Before playing the season’s main antagonist Bower has played supernatural roles before.
[WARNING: This article contains major spoilers for Stranger Things 4 Volume I.]
Fans finally start to uncover the truth about the Upside Down in ‘Stranger Things’ Season 4
The main characters and Hawkings are in trouble for the new season once again. This time, they meet their biggest enemy, known as Vecna. Like the other seasons, the characters try to understand the inner workings of Vecna, his connection to the Upside Down and Eleven. As fans watch the season, they soon realize the kind caregiver in Eleven’s memories is the key to the mystery.
In the finale, “Chapter Eight: The Upside Down,” Eleven learns the truth about the massacre at Hawking’s lab. Many believed Eleven was the culprit, but it was all a lie. The kind caregiver, Peter Ballard, is actually One. The first patient of Dr. Brenner, who spawned the project that created Eleven.
Peter Ballard is, in fact, Henry Creel. A young boy who became angered by the world and harnessed the power of a grandfather clock to gain his abilities. After murdering his family, he was taken in by Dr. Brenner. He grows up under a new name and with a chip hindering his abilities. In Eleven’s memories, she helps him, and he goes on a rampant massacre.
To stop him and save herself, Eleven uses her powers and opens the gate to the Upside Down and trapping Henry inside of it. In return, Henry becomes Vecna. Bower plays the multiple characters in Stranger Things Season 4. But the actor was known for being an ancient vampire in Twilight.
James Campbell Bower made a name for himself as a vampire in the ‘Twilight’ franchise
There is a reason why Bower’s impressive bone structure is so familiar outside of Stranger Things Season 4. Bower played a vampire in the infamous teen franchise Twilight.
He first appeared as Caius in The Twilight Saga: New Moon. Caius is a member of the feared and ancient leaders of the vampires, the Volturi. The character became a vampire around 1300 B.C. while he was in his late 40s. Unlike the rest of the Volturi, Caius has no special abilities. Young fans soon had a major crush on Bower as his character.
In a 2009 interview with Entertainment Weekly, Bower revealed he was a fan of Twilight and the books before playing Caius. The actor originally auditioned for Demetrius.
But Bower was better suited for another character. “‘We think you’d be more fitting as Caius.’ And I said, ‘Well that’s very kind of you, I’d love to come along and play him.’ And I was aware of the character, I was aware very much of the particularly strong presence the Volturi have in Breaking Dawn,” explained Bower.
The actor is also known for playing another teen heartthrob on the big screen, based on a popular book series.
Bad boy and Shadowhunter, Jace Wayland was played by James Campbell Bower in 2013
After playing the role of Caius for many of the Twilight installments, Bower got to take center stage in a leading role for another supernatural teen phenomenon. In the 2000s, popular teen books were developed into movies. After the success of Twilight, the first book of The Mortal Instruments series was developed into the movie The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones.
The movie and book storyline center on a hidden world where magic, vampires, witches, and the supernatural exist. A young girl named Clary (Lily James) learns the truth and her connection to the world. She soon meets Jace Wayland, played by Bower. The character is a Shadowhunter. It is a secret organization of half-angels who use runes drawn on their skin to eradicate demons.
Bower became a heartthrob for young teens with his captivating blue eyes, chiseled jaw, bad boy aura, and aloof demeanor. In 2013, Bower told MTV, “He’s not like a meathead, he’s just sarcastic and rude.” Sadly, the franchise was short-lived on the big screen and instead became a series on Freeform.
