Elliot Page’s “Umbrella Academy” character, previously known as Vanya Hargreeves, is going to come out as transgender in season three of Netflix's hit superhero series.
The actor announced the news via Twitter with a snapshot of himself in costume, with the caption,
"Meet Viktor Hargreeves."
Meet Viktor Hargreeves \n@UmbrellaAcadpic.twitter.com/ZraQNBhfTb— Elliot Page (@Elliot Page) 1648584075
“Umbrella Academy” is based on the comic book by My Chemical Romance frontman Gerard Way. It follows a family of adopted siblings who moonlight as superheroes as they reunite to figure out who killed their father while preventing an impending apocalypse.
Netflix responded to Page's announcement with a tweet that read,
"Welcome to the family, Viktor — we’re so happy you’re here."
Welcome to the family, Viktor \u2014 we\u2019re so happy you\u2019re here https://twitter.com/TheElliotPage/status/1508897094152568835\u00a0\u2026— Netflix (@Netflix) 1648584083
The official "Umbrella Academy" account replied directly to Page's tweet,
"WE LOVE YOU VIKTOR"
The character change follows Page's coming out as trans in December of 2020. The actor is currently in the midst of writing a memoir that details his experiences that will release next year. At the time of his coming out, he wrote in a public letter,
“I feel lucky to be writing this. To be here. To have arrived at this place in my life. I feel overwhelming gratitude for the incredible people who have supported me along this journey. I can’t begin to express how remarkable it feels to finally love who I am enough to pursue my authentic self.”
pic.twitter.com/kwti60bZLw— Elliot Page (@Elliot Page) 1606842630
“I love that I am trans. And I love that I am queer. And the more I hold myself close and fully embrace who I am, the more I dream, the more my heart grows and the more I thrive. To all trans people who deal with harassment, self-loathing, abuse and the threat of violence every day: I see you, I love you and I will do everything I can to change this world for the better.”
Season three of "Umbrella Academy" premieres exclusively on Netflix June 22.