When I first heard that Gerard Way of My Chemical Romance had written a superhero comic series, I was of course skeptical. However, from everything I've heard, it seems to actually be a great, original piece of work! Who'd've thunk it? Now Netflix is working on a live-action series out of it (after many failed attempts to get a big-budget film off the ground). Casting has also officially begun in earnest, with Ellen Page set to play Vanya.
Anyway, here are the other new cast members:
Tom Hopper (Luther)
“Luther" was groomed by his father from an early age to be the leader of The Umbrella Academy – a responsibility that has always weighed heavily on him. He is resilient, a workaholic, and possesses the ability of heightened physical strength. Upstanding to a fault, Luther always tries to do the right thing, even if that means putting others before himself.
Emmy Raver-Lampman (Allison)
“Allison” is beautiful, elegant, and a formerly world-famous movie star who possesses the power of suggestion – anything she says aloud comes to pass. Her life seems perfect from the outside, but her ability has undermined every relationship she’s ever had. With her career on the decline and her marriage in shambles, she refuses to use her power as she seeks a more authentic life.
David Castañeda (Diego)
“Diego” is a skilled, intense vigilante who has a real problem with authority. He isn't as naturally strong or smart as his siblings, so he’s worked three times as hard for everything. Believing he should have been the leader of his family instead of his brother, he carries a massive chip on his shoulder that makes him hostile to just about everyone.
Aidan Gallagher (Number Five)
“Number Five” appears to be a thirteen year old boy, but in actuality he is a fifty-eight-year-old man trapped in the body of a child. He doesn’t suffer fools and is the smartest person in the room. He’s haunted by the things he’s seen and done, and is on the verge of losing his grip on reality.
Robert Sheehan (Klaus)
“Klaus” is a drug addict and lovable mess of a human being and yet, if you ask him, any day now his life is going to turn around. He’s a classic “middle child” – a disarming pleaser who is seemingly everyone’s friend, but will rob you blind without thinking twice.
And here's the official synopsis:
The Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy is adding more members. Based on the popular, Eisner award-winning comics and graphic novels created and written by Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), illustrated by Gabriel Bá, and published by Dark Horse Comics, the series is adding cast members Tom Hopper as “Luther,” Emmy Raver-Lampman as “Allison,” David Castañeda as “Diego,” Robert Sheehan as “Klaus,” and Aidan Gallagher as “Number Five.” The live action series follows the estranged members of a dysfunctional family of superheroes (The Umbrella Academy) – Luther, Diego, Allison, Vanya, Klaus and Number Five – as they work together to solve their father Reginald Hardgraves’ mysterious death, while coming apart at the seams due to their divergent personalities and abilities. The Umbrella Academy will be produced by Universal Cable Productions. Steve Blackman (Fargo, Altered Carbon) will serve as executive producer and showrunner, with additional executive producers Bluegrass Television and Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg from Dark Horse Entertainment. Gerard Way will serve as co-executive producer. The pilot script was adapted from the comic book series by Jeremy Slater (The Exorcist).
Meanwhile, any UMBRELLA ACADEMY fans out there? And if so, what do you think of the casting? Either way, sound off below!