Drama series The Umbrella Academy has rounded out its cast with the addition of five new cast members. Tom Hopper (Game of Thrones), Emmy Raver-Lampman (Hamilton), David Castañeda (We Are Unsatisfied), Robert Sheehan (Genius), and Aidan Gallagher (Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, & Dawn) will be joining Ellen Page in the cast of the Netflix series.
The live-action series, which is based on the popular graphic novels by Gerard Way (My Chemical Romance), follows the estranged members of a dysfunctional family of superheroes Luther (Hopper), Diego (Castañeda), Allison (Raver-Lampman), Vanya (Page), Klaus (Sheehan), and Number Five (Gallagher), known as the Umbrella Academy. The story follows them as they work together to solve the mysterious death of their father while coming apart at the seams due to their divergent personalities and abilities.
Hopper, who starred in Season 7 of Game of Thrones as Dickon Tarly, just wrapped shooting a starring role in Voltage/STX’s comedy I Feel Pretty alongside Amy Schumer and Michelle Williams. He also starred as Billy Bones in Starz’s Black Sails.
Raver-Lampman is the breakout star of the Tony Award-winning musical Hamilton. She was promoted to the role of Angelica Schuyler for the West Coast Run after being a part of the original ensemble on Broadway. Her new role in The Umbrella Academy marks her first television role.
Castañeda is currently shooting the Billy Crystal/Ben Schwartz comedy We Are Unsatisfied. His recent work includes a lead role in the independent feature El Chicano with Raul Castillo and George Lopez. He also stars in Lionsgate’s forthcoming Sicario sequel Soldado.
Gallagher is known for his role as Nicky on Nickelodeon’s Nicky, Ricky, Dicky, & Dawn. The show was recently cancelled after three seasons.
Sheehan is currently shooting the second season of Genius, which is about the life and work of Picasso. He also starred on the British series Misfits as Nathan. Sheehan will appear in Netflix’s Mute, the second part of a planned trilogy from writer/director Duncan Jones.
The Umbrella Academy will be produced by Universal Cable Productions. Steve Blackman (Fargo) is set to serve as the showrunner and executive producer of the series. Bluegrass Television along with Mike Richardson and Keith Goldberg from Dark Horse Entertainment will serve as executive producers. Way will serve as co-executive producer.
Check out the detailed character descriptions of the five characters below:
Luther (Hopper) 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.
Allison (Raver-Lampman) 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.
Diego (Castaneda) 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.
Number Five (Gallagher) 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.
Klaus (Sheehan) 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.