The Umbrella Academy season 3 is finally here and Elliot Page is opening up about Viktor's transition in the series. Page starred in the first two seasons of the Netflix series as Vanya Hargreeves, one of the seven adopted siblings who was alienated from the rest of the family for seemingly having no superpowers, only to later discover the ability to convert sound waves into physical force and nearly destroys the world in season 1. The Umbrella Academy season 2 saw Vanya fall in love with mistreated housewife Missy when the titular family accidentally travel back to 1963.
The Umbrella Academy season 3 picks up from the season 2 cliffhanger ending that saw the Hargreeves return to the present in an alternate timeline in which none of them were born and Sir Reginald adopted seven other superpowered children and formed the Sparrow Academy. While contending with the new superhero team, the Umbrellas also discover the latest apocalyptic threat of the Kugelblitz, a large ball of electric light consuming all matter in existence due to the time paradox of the Umbrellas being in a timeline in which they're not supposed to exist. While The Umbrella Academy season 3 explores these high-stakes threats, it also continues to tap into the personal lives of its ensemble cast of characters, including one's major life decision.
In anticipation of the show's premiere, Elliot Page appeared on Late Night with Seth Meyers to discuss The Umbrella Academy season 3. The actor opened up about his character Viktor coming out as trans in the series, explaining how showrunner Steve Blackman was eager to work with Page to incorporate his own transition into his character's journey in the new season. See what Page shared below:
“Yeah it was, and really with Steve Blackman, the showrunner of Umbrella he is just incredible and such a wonderful person. So when we first talked about it, he seemed really excited about incorporating [my transition] into the show and then incredible writer, journalist and author Thomas Page McBee, who I met doing a miniseries called Tales of the City, he wrote an extraordinary book called ‘Amateur,’ which I highly recommend everyone to read. He was the first trans man to box in Madison Square Garden and his book, and his work in general, were about masculinity and what it means and exploring that. So Thomas came onboard and helped out and I feel proud of it and excited for people to see it.”
Throughout the first two seasons of The Umbrella Academy, audiences were treated to seeing Vanya embrace his true self as he came to terms with his potentially destructive powers, complicated relationship with his siblings and determining his sexuality. When Page announced his own transition in real life, many took to wondering if The Umbrella Academy season 3 would similarly see Vanya elect to come out as trans, a plot point confirmed in recent months as he would become Viktor in the show. It was a move praised by many in the LGBTQ+ community for not only embracing Page's real-life transition but allowing him to explore it through his character.
Page's discussion of The Umbrella Academy's Viktor should continue to speak volumes to the creative team behind the hit Netflix series, as they were not only eager to bring his transition to the screen, but also worked with those in the LGBTQ+ community to help ensure it felt as authentic as possible. Though reviews for The Umbrella Academy season 3 have pointed towards an overstuffed new batch of episodes, they have all continued to praise the character development and relationships between its various characters, including Viktor's transition and how his siblings embrace his coming out. Audiences can finally see the emotional new season as The Umbrella Academy season 3 is now streaming on Netflix.
Source: Late Night with Seth Meyers