News: Live Action Series The Umbrella Academy Coming to Netflix 2018

UPDATED May 9, 2018 – Kate Walsh Joins Cast of The Umbrella Academy

KATE WALSH JOINS NETFLIX’S ‘THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY’

Kate Walsh (13 Reasons Why, Private Practice) is set to join the cast of the Netflix original series ‘The Umbrella Academy.’

KATE WALSH JOINS NETFLIX’S ‘THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY’

Kate Walsh (13 Reasons Why, Private Practice) is set to join the cast of the Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy.

Based on the award-winning comic book series of the same name created and written by Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), illustrated by Gabriel Bá, and published by Dark Horse Comics, The Umbrella Academy is a live action series that follows the estranged members of a dysfunctional family of superheroes – Luther, Diego, Allison, Vanya, Klaus and Number Five – as they work together to solve their adoptive father Reginald Hargreeves’ mysterious death, while coming apart at the seams due to their divergent personalities and abilities.

Kate Walsh (Photo courtesy of Netflix)

Kate Walsh is set for the recurring role of “The Handler,” a composed and confident leader of a mysterious, bureaucratic company. She’s always ready to manage any situation, big or small, but it’s best not to get on her bad side. That said, her charm is her greatest strength, and she uses it to her full advantage to complete the business of her organization.

Walsh joins previously announced cast members Ellen Page, Mary J. Blige, Tom Hopper, Cameron Britton, Robert Sheehan, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Adam Godley, Aidan Gallagher, David Castañeda. John Magaro, Ashley Madekwe, and Colm Feore.

The Umbrella Academy is produced by Universal Cable Productions. Steve Blackman (Fargo, Altered Carbon) serves as executive producer and showrunner, with additional executive producers Bluegrass Television and Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg from Dark Horse Entertainment. Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá serve as co-executive producers.

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UPDATED 2/16/18 – More Cast Announcement for The Umbrella Academy

———— Posted Feb. 16, 2018 ————

NETFLIX’S ‘THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY’ ADDS CAMERON BRITTON, COLM FEORE, ADAM GODLEY, and ASHLEY MADEKWE

The Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy is expanding its ranks and adding Cameron Britton (Mindhunter), Colm Feore (House of Cards), Adam Godley (Breaking Bad), and Ashley Madekwe (Revenge).

Character Descriptions:

CAMERON BRITTON – Set for the series regular role of Hazel
An infamously ruthless and efficient hit-man, currently under contract. His job is to time travel and assassinate targets in different decades. Though a loyal company man who has enjoyed what he does for decades, the job starts to wear on him — which puts him at odds with his equally lethal partner, “Cha-Cha” (Mary J. Blige).

COLM FEORE – Set for the series regular role of Reginald Hargreeves
Sir Reginald Hargreeves is a world-renowned billionaire industrialist and eccentric inventor—Howard Hughes meets Elon Musk. He is also the adoptive father of seven children who were born under mysterious circumstances and have supernatural abilities. Hargreeves deprived them of any normal childhood, instead relentlessly training and manipulating them into a dysfunctional team of young superheroes.

ADAM GODLEY – Set for the series regular role of Pogo (V.O./Motion Capture)
Pogo is a genetically engineered, tweed jacket-wearing, talking chimpanzee. He is the trusted, wise aide and companion to eccentric billionaire Reginald Hargreeves. Much beloved by the Hargreeves’ adopted children, Pogo tries to carry on his deceased master’s legacy by keeping the siblings together.

ASHLEY MADEKWE – Set for the role of Detective Patch
Detective Eudora “Margot” Patch is a driven, fast riser within the police department focused on solving a string of crimes in the city. Some might call her arrogant, but she gets the job done, and with charm. She plays by the book, but that doesn’t make her soft. She isn’t sympathetic to vigilantism–which puts her at odds with a certain sibling of the Umbrella Academy.

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UPDATED 2/13/18 – Mary J. Blige Joins Cast of The Umbrella Academy

———— Posted Feb. 13, 2018 ————

MARY J. BLIGE JOINS NETFLIX’S THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY

Nine-time Grammy winner and two-time Academy Award nominee Mary J. Blige (Mudbound) is set to join the cast of the Netflix original series The Umbrella Academy.

Based on the popular, Eisner award-winning comics and graphic novels of the same name created and written by Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), illustrated by Gabriel Bá, and published by Dark Horse Comics, 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 Hargreeves’ mysterious death, while coming apart at the seams due to their divergent personalities and abilities.

Mary J. Blige is set for the series regular role of “Cha-Cha,” a ruthless and unorthodox hitwoman who travels through time to kill assigned targets. Even though she has a few gripes about the bureaucracy of her employers, this job is her life. She is sadistic, sociopathic, and her reputation precedes her. Her true love is torture, and she thinks of herself as a “pain artist.” She really doesn’t care for people—except for her partner Hazel.

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).

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———— Posted July 12, 2017 ————

GERARD WAY AND GABRIEL BÁ’S THE UMBRELLA ACADEMY GRAPHIC NOVELS COME TO NETFLIX IN NEW LIVE ACTION SERIES

New 10-episodes series from Universal Cable Productions and Dark Horse Entertainment

Hollywood, CA — July 11, 2017 — Netflix, the world’s leading internet TV network, will bring the ten-episode series The Umbrella Academy to members worldwide in 2018.

Based on the popular, Eisner award-winning comics and graphic novels created and written by Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance) and illustrated by Gabriel Bá, The Umbrella Academy is a live action series that follows the estranged members of a dysfunctional family of superheroes (The Umbrella Academy) — The Monocle, Spaceboy, The Kraken, The Rumor, The Séance, Number Five, The Horror, and The White Violin — as they work together to solve their father’s mysterious death while coming apart at the seams due to their divergent personalities and abilities. Published by Dark Horse Comics, the comic series garnered much praise from fans and critics alike for its alternate and twisted take on the superhero genre.

“I am thrilled that The Umbrella Academy has found a home at Netflix. I couldn’t think of a better place for the vision Gabriel Bá and myself had when creating the comic, and cannot wait for people to experience that world as a live action show,” said Gerard Way.

“What drew us to The Umbrella Academy is that it’s wholly unique, visual and stylized,” said Cindy Holland, Vice President, Original Content for Netflix. “These aren’t the usual superheroes, and this series will embrace the singular tone of the graphic novels — dark yet humorous, supernatural yet grounded in reality. We’re excited to see this world and introduce these unforgettable heroes to Netflix members around the globe.”

“It’s a thrill to be producing this wonderful show for Netflix,” said Jeff Wachtel, Chief Content Officer, NBCUniversal Cable Entertainment, and President, Universal Cable Productions. “It’s been a passion project for the UCP development crew and we can’t wait to bring it to life.”