The Umbrella Academy surprised audiences with its quirky characters and bold approach to the superhero genre. Based on the beloved comic series of the same name, the first season successfully brought forward the cool dynamic of the core six children of Sir Reginald Hargreeves. The series continued to go bigger with each season, culminating with a wild cliffhanger in season 3.
The series is set to end with a fourth season that will premiere on Netflix this August. The trailer teased an exciting conclusion for the beloved characters. Unfortunately, the show has now been hit with shocking news about its showrunner Steve Blackman’s alleged toxic behavior on-set, with some staff members accusing him of other derogatory actions.
The Umbrella Academy Showrunner Gets Hit With Damaging Allegations of Alleged Toxic Behavior
Since season 1, Steve Blackman has successfully adapted The Umbrella Academy for Netflix, integrating the quirky and fantastical elements of the comics. He also ensured that the series was character-driven, making it an epic ensemble piece with core characters played by Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, and Aidan Gallagher.
Audiences have loved all three seasons of the show and have grown to love the characters and their familial dynamic. Amidst the fourth season coming out, the show is now embroiled in a shocking controversy involving Blackman. In a new report by Rolling Stone, twelve writers and support staff have come out and called him a manipulative and chaotic showrunner.
They accused Blackman of allegedly having a “long history of toxic, bullying, manipulative, and retaliatory behavior” and reportedly nurturing “a toxic workplace by pitting staffers against one another”. He also allegedly made lewd, sexist, homophobic, and transphobic remarks during the show’s production. These are serious allegations, and fans are shocked by this news, with many concerned about its impact on the show. Here are some of the reactions,
How hard it is to just be a decent human being?
— Warling (@WarlingHD) June 30, 2024
Shame to hear this.
Also a bit too late for this story to drop as the show comes to a close. 🫤— Ryan 'All Day News' Anderson (@Ryans_Ramblings) June 30, 2024
We don’t like this. Not at all.
Steve is on sus watch
— Fernansh Era (@BrunoFernanshh) June 30, 2024
isn’t there literally a trans individual in the cast?
this is so messed up.
— Honest Andrew 🥀 (@andrewscomet) June 30, 2024
That horrible. Is it that hard to treat someone with decency? People have to do it everyday at work for a living. No one should have to put up with this type of behavior. pic.twitter.com/AgrGZDX5rH
— CMac (@TurtleMac24) June 30, 2024
One of the show’s main cast is a trans man (Page), and thus, it is surprising that Blackman would make any kind of transphobic remarks. While an internal investigation was done on Blackman regarding these alleged accusations, the people who were making these claims were reportedly not interviewed. The showrunner’s representative has denied these allegations, and it remains to be seen whether this controversy has any impact on the viewership of season 4 of the show.
The Final Season Of The Umbrella Academy Will Provide Closure and Definite Answers
The Umbrella Academy is set to conclude with the upcoming fourth season. The ending of the third season left audiences with many questions and one of the stars of the show, Justin H. Min promises that the final season will provide the answers that audiences are seeking.
In an interview with Collider, Min stated that there is a real sense of closure with the final season and was an incredibly emotional process in achieving that. He promises that all the questions that people were left with after the cliffhanger of season 3 will be addressed and is excited for audiences to experience the final season. The actor said,
We filmed the final season last year, the first half of last year. It was incredibly emotional, but we were just so thankful to have the opportunity to sort of close out the story. A lot of questions that have been brewing throughout the seasons of the show get answered in this final season. I think there’s a real sense of closure, so I’m excited for the fans who’ve been waiting for certain answers to get those.
The final season will see the return of Elliot Page, Tom Hopper, David Castañeda, Emmy Raver-Lampman, Robert Sheehan, Aidan Gallagher, and Ritu Arya. All episodes of season 4 of The Umbrella Academy hits Netflix on August 8, 2024.
