Several new characters will debut in The Umbrella Academy season 2 - including Lila, who fans can get a first look at in a new poster. Written by Gerard Way and illustrated by Gabriel Bá, the adventures began life as a series of graphic novels. The first installment - The Umbrella Academy: Apocalypse Suite - was told across six issues and published by Dark Horse Comics between 2007 and 2008. Earning a coveted Eisner Award, the saga continued with two more volumes - The Umbrella Academy: Dallas and The Umbrella Academy: Hotel Oblivion. A planned fourth installment is reportedly also on the way.
Developed by Steve Blackman and Jeremy Slater, an adaptation premiered on Netflix in early 2019. The Umbrella Academy became one of the streaming service's most popular shows - even eclipsing Stranger Things. As such, the quirky series was rapidly renewed. Starring Ellen Page, the saga follows a group who were born with superpowers under mysterious circumstances. Adopted and weaponized by Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), the childhood superhero team reunited as wayward adults in order to mourn his death and prevent an oncoming apocalypse. Despite failing to achieve the latter, the siblings were last seen escaping their fates by time-traveling together into the past.
A new post on the official The Umbrella Academy Twitter account has now offered the first look at one of the newcomers that the team will meet there. Played by Ritu Arya, the character is named Lila Pitts. Previously described as "a chameleon who can be as brilliant or as clinically insane as the situation requires," Lila is also said to be "unpredictable, mischievous, sarcastic" and in possession of a "twisted sense of humor". Though each of those attributes lends themselves to making her the perfect companion for Klaus (Robert Sheehan), it would seem that The Umbrella Academy season 2 will instead pair her with another. According to combined images, Lila will be partnered with Diego (David Castañeda) and seemingly even bring out a more lighthearted side to the traditionally gruff character. Check out the full, customarily colorful poster below:
Though elements were already utilized during The Umbrella Academy season 1, the sophomore outing looks set to primarily adapt the Dallas storyline. The siblings were confirmed to have landed in the 1960s, albeit at different points within the decade. As a result, season 2 will pick up with the characters at very different stages of their lives - with some having even moved on from their previously intended, world-saving goal. How Lila will fit into Diego's new life will have to remain to be seen. However, replies from Netflix to the original post are already priming her to be a chaotic fan-favorite. The Umbrella Academy season 2 will also introduce Yusuf Gatewood as Raymond and Marin Ireland as Sissy.
From the outset, Lila appears to be a wholly original character. Like how Harold Jenkins from season 1 had similarities to the villainous Conductor, however, elements from a comic book counterpart may be transferred to her. Based on the description of Lila, another idea could be that she has powers of her own - potentially of a shapeshifting or otherwise camouflaging variety. There is after all meant to be 36 other superpowered individuals out in the world. If she is one of the missing infants, that only begs the further question of what she, too, is doing in the 1960s - decades before her birth. Whatever the case regarding Lila's identity and place in the world, all will become clear in the coming weeks.
The Umbrella Academy season 2 will be released in its entirety via Netflix on July 31.
Source: Umbrella Academy/Twitter