“The Umbrella Academy” is an American superhero TV series adapted from the comic book series of the same name, authored by Gerard Way, illustrated by Gabriel Bá, and published by Dark Horse Comics. Developed for Netflix by Steve Blackman and Jeremy Slater, it centers on a dysfunctional family of adopted sibling superheroes reuniting to unravel the mystery surrounding their father’s demise and the looming threat of an impending apocalypse. Produced by Borderline Entertainment (seasons 1–2), Irish Cowboy (season 3), Dark Horse Entertainment, and Universal Content Productions, the show received TV-14 ratings for its first two seasons and a TV-MA rating for the third.
Starring Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, Cameron Britton, Mary J. Blige, and others, the series initially began development as a film optioned by Universal Pictures in 2011, transitioning into a TV series in 2015 before being greenlit by Netflix in July 2017. Filmed in Toronto and Hamilton, Ontario, the first season premiered on Netflix on February 15, 2019, garnering massive viewership and acclaim, with subsequent seasons following suit in 2020 and 2022. Set in a universe where 43 women inexplicably give birth on October 1, 1989, seven of the children are adopted by the eccentric billionaire Sir Reginald Hargreeves and transformed into a superhero team known as “The Umbrella Academy.” Numbered rather than named, the children embark on crime-fighting endeavors, though Vanya is kept separate from her siblings due to perceived lack of powers. The series unfolds with the siblings reuniting upon Reginald’s death, discovering a looming apocalypse and delving into their complicated pasts.
In the second season, the siblings find themselves scattered across early 1960s Dallas due to time-travel events from the first season, with Five racing against time to avert another apocalypse linked to the non-assassination of JFK. Meanwhile, the third season sees the siblings grappling with a changed present where they’re replaced by another group dubbed “The Sparrow Academy,” necessitating their effort to prevent a universe-consuming disaster spawned from their own time-travel actions.
CHARACTERS
- Elliot Page portrays Viktor/Vanya Hargreeves, a meek violinist alienated from siblings until revealing his sound wave conversion ability. T.J. McGibbon and Alyssa Gervasi depict him at different ages.
- Tom Hopper plays Luther Hargreeves, an astronaut with super strength and secret feelings for Allison. Cameron Brodeur portrays a younger version.
- David Castañeda is Diego Hargreeves, a troublemaker with telekinetic abilities who starts a relationship with Lila. Blake Talabis plays a younger Diego.
- Emmy Raver-Lampman stars as Allison Hargreeves, a celebrity actress with mind control abilities. Eden Cupid and Jordana Blake portray her at different ages.
- Robert Sheehan portrays Klaus Hargreeves, a flamboyant drug addict with the power of communicating with the dead. Dante Albidone depicts him as a younger Klaus.
- Aidan Gallagher stars as Five Hargreeves, a time-jumping boy. Jim Watson plays adult Five, while Sean Sullivan portrays an elderly version.
- Mary J. Blige appears as Cha-Cha, a Commission agent. Cameron Britton portrays Hazel, her partner.
- John Magaro plays Leonard Peabody / Harold Jenkins, Viktor’s love interest. Jesse Noah Gruman depicts him as a younger Harold.
- Adam Godley voices Phinneus Pogo, an intelligent chimpanzee. Godley also portrays Pogo in different timelines.
- Colm Feore is Sir Reginald Hargreeves, the adoptive father.
- Justin H. Min plays Ben Hargreeves / The Horror. Ethan Hwang portrays a younger Ben. Min also portrays Ben Hargreeves / Sparrow Number Two.
- Ritu Arya is Lila Pitts, Diego’s love interest. Raya Korah and Anjana Vernuganan depict Lila at different ages.
- Yusuf Gatewood appears as Raymond Chestnut, Allison’s second husband.
- Marin Ireland plays Sissy Cooper, Vanya’s love interest.
- Kate Walsh appears as The Handler, the head of the Commission.
- Genesis Rodriguez portrays Sloane Hargreeves. Britne Oldford is Fei Hargreeves.
- Sheila McCarthy appears as Agnes Rofa, Hazel’s love interest.
- Jordan Claire Robbins is Grace Hargreeves / Mom.
- Ashley Madekwe appears as Detective Eudora Patch.
- Peter Outerbridge plays The Conductor.
- Rainbow Sun Francks appears as Detective Chuck Beaman.
- Matt Biedel portrays Sgt. Dale Chedder.
- Cody Ray Thompson and Calem MacDonald play Dave Katz at different ages.
- Patrice Goodman appears as Dot. Ken Hall is Herb.
- Kevin Rankin is Elliott. Kris Holden-Ried appears as Axel.
- John Kapelos is Jack Ruby. Stephen Bogaert plays Carl Cooper.
- Raven Dauda appears as Odessa. Dewshane Williams is Miles.
- Jason Bryden is Otto. Tom Sinclair plays Oscar.
- Justin Paul Kelly and Callum Keith Rennie portray Harlan Cooper / Lester Pocket.
- Dov Tiefenbach appears as Keechie. Robin Atkin Downes is A.J. Carmichael.
- Mouna Traoré appears as Jill. Justin Cornwell is Marcus Hargreeves.
- Jake Epstein portrays Alphonso Hargreeves. Cazzie David is Jayme Hargreeves.
- Javon “Wanna” Walton is Stanley “Stan”. Julian Richings appears as Chet Rodo.
STORYLINE
“The Umbrella Academy” charts the tumultuous odyssey of a dysfunctional clan of adopted superheroes. In Season 1, the fractured siblings reconvene after their enigmatic patriarch’s demise. As they probe the circumstances of his death, they uncover sinister family secrets, wrestling with their own past traumas amidst the looming specter of an apocalypse foreseen by Vanya, one of their own, whose latent powers pose a global threat.
Season 2 thrusts the Hargreeves clan into the 1960s via a time-travel mishap, scattering them across disparate timelines in Dallas. Amidst the turbulence of the era, they race against time to reunite and prevent another cataclysmic disaster triggered by Vanya’s abilities. Along their journey, they forge new alliances, confront fresh foes, and grapple with the ramifications of their actions on the past.
In Season 3, the Hargreeves siblings awaken in an alternate reality where they are nonexistent. Struggling to adapt to this unfamiliar landscape, they encounter their doppelgangers and unravel the mystery of their absence. Faced with the looming threat of yet another apocalypse, they must navigate unfamiliar challenges and confrontations to safeguard both their reality and the one they left behind.
As the series unfolds, profound themes of family dynamics, self-discovery, and destiny come to the fore. Each sibling grapples with their extraordinary abilities and the intricate web of relationships that bind them together. Through trials and tribulations, they confront their past traumas, cultivate new alliances, and face formidable adversaries on their quest to save the world and mend the fractures within their family.
