‘Stranger Things’ Star Surprises Fans with Incredible Body Transformation
Eduardo Franco, best known for playing the pizza-loving Argyle on Stranger Things, recently shocked fans with a completely new look. The 31-year-old shared his dramatic body transformation on Instagram, showing off a toned, muscular physique after just three months of intense training.
Franco revealed that the change was driven by a new film role he landed in July 2025, which required him to appear shirtless in one of the first scenes.
“The script’s first scene, where my character appears, is in the very beginning of the movie and my character is shirtless. I said, ‘Well, I’d like to look as lean as possible for that scene,’” Franco explained in his video.
He teamed up with celebrity trainer Stephen Cheuk at S10 Training in New York to build muscle and get in peak shape, despite having no prior experience with strength training. “Stephen really did take care of me, it was super dope,” he added, giving credit to the trainer for his rapid results.
The video showing his new abs went viral immediately, with fellow Stranger Things stars reacting online. Finn Wolfhard posted clapping emojis, while Caleb McLaughlin responded with a more colorful expression of surprise.
Franco isn’t just focusing on live-action projects this year. He also has a busy 2026 schedule in animation. He will voice Daryl the capybara in Sony Pictures Animation’s sports comedy Goat, alongside Caleb McLaughlin, Jennifer Hudson, and Stephen Curry. He’s also lending his voice to Loaf in Disney/Pixar’s Hoppers, a film about a girl who hops into a robotic beaver to explore the animal kingdom.
From his breakout roles in American Vandal and Booksmart to his current lean, leading-man look, Franco is showing fans that he can take on a wide range of roles. His Instagram posts and new projects make it clear that 2026 could be a major year for him. Goat is set to hit theaters on February 13, marking another big milestone in his career.
What do you think about Eduardo Franco’s dramatic transformation for this new role? Do you think it’s a sign he’s ready for bigger, more action-oriented parts? Share your thoughts in the comments.