The Terminal List: Dark Wolf – Tom Hopper opens up on how he found a sign that connected to his autistic son

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf premiered on August 27, 2025, on Prime Video and brought back James Reece (Chris Pratt) and Ben Edwards (Taylor Kitsch) together, but in a different setting. The prequel also introduces Tom Hopper’s Raife Hastings, another important character in both of their lives, who will also be seen in Season 2 of The Terminal List.

While talking to Esquire about his character’s journey in the latest series, he also shared how the show has a connection to his autistic son, Freddie. He shared that while reading True Believer, the follow-up to Jack Carr’s The Terminal List, he found two characters, Reece and Freddie, arguing.

Turns out that Carr’s son’s name is Reece, and he has special needs, making his condition similar to Hopper's son's. He said:

"My son, Freddie, is autistic nonverbal. Jack told me that his son, Reece, has special needs. So both of them are limited in their communication."

First finding a character named after his son and later seeing that their children are able to converse through the book was a huge deal for the British actor.

More on this in our story.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf- Tom Hopper talks about how he found a sign that connected the series to his son

In a recent interview with Esquire, Tom Hopper talked at length about his character Raife Hastings in The Terminal List: Dark Wolf. Aside from that, he also shared a beautiful connection that connected his autistic son to the story of the series.

He shared that when he read the two characters, Freddie and Reece, talking to each other, he felt a connection to the series, as neither his son nor Jack's son can have a conversation like this in real life.

To add to his previous comment, he said:

"In the book, they are talking about Freddie's son, who has the same condition that Jack's son Reece has. What I found amazing is that Freddie and Reece are talking to each other. Our sons can't have conversations in that manner, but through the book, our 'sons' are having these conversations. I believe in signs. I felt like this was meant to be."

Therefore, through this fateful coincidence, Hopper found a meaningful link between his son and the series that he was going to be a huge part of.

The Terminal List: Dark Wolf- Tom Hopper’s comments on Raife Hastings

Tom Hopper reveals, as per the novels, Hastings is one of Reece’s best friends and can do anything for his friends. Therefore, in the prequel, The Terminal List: Dark Wolf, Raife decides to leave with Ben. Hopper shares about how his character is complex, who is dealing with his own morality while looking out for Ben, whose dark side he is aware of.

He shares,

"In Dark Wolf, when Ben has his wings taken from him, he says, "If you look closely enough, you'll see those strings vibrating inside of Ben." It's not just about fighting the enemy. There's a part of him fighting himself."

He continued:

"What we see through Dark Wolf is how Raife has to tackle his own moral compass and stay with Ben. It comes to a point where he starts to question whether he's even able to do that anymore. He can't break his own ethics and morals for the sake of a mission that isn't his. It's not his fight."

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The Terminal List: Dark Wolf is available to stream on Prime Video.

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