Might The Umbrella Academy End With Season 4? EP Weighs In on Show’s Fate
Much like the fate of the universe where it takes place, The Umbrella Academy‘s future is up in the air.
Season 3 of Netflix‘s comic book adaptation dropped at last on Wednesday, and there’s currently no word on whether the show will be back for a fourth season. But if the series does return for Season 4, those episodes could potentially serve as The Umbrella Academy‘s last, based on series creator Steve Blackman’s initial plan for the show.
“I don’t know how many seasons [Netflix] wants to go. I pitched them Season 4, and I know the beginning, middle and end [of it],” Blackman divulges to TVLine. “When I started the show, I really only knew the first four seasons in my mind.”
He adds that Gerard Way, who authors the comics on which The Umbrella Academy is based, “wants to do stuff for another decade, and he’s going to do volumes and volumes.” But even if the source material continues for years, “I have what I think is an end to the TV show,” Blackman says.
“Netflix may want more than that,” he adds, “but I have a sweet thought of where I think the show should end and where we’re going.”
The Umbrella Academy‘s third season ended — spoiler alert! — with the newly created kugelblitz devouring the universe as we know it. Sir Reginald attempted to reprogram the universe entirely before it was destroyed, but his process was interrupted by Allison; thus, the remaining Umbrella Academy and Sparrow Academy siblings were transported to a seemingly half-formed world where they no longer possess their powers.
“There are going to be repercussions, if we’re lucky enough to have a Season 4, of the incomplete programming of the universe,” Blackman reveals. “Someone asked me, ‘Why would [Reginald] leave the kids in such a bad place?’ I would argue that he thinks he might be leaving them in a good place. They’ve been complaining about their powers and who they are, and now he’s saying, ‘Look, you’re free. You don’t have powers anymore, there’s nothing holding you back. Live your lives.’ The audience gets to decide whether Hargreeves did a good or bad thing for them.”
Would Season 4 feel like a suitable stopping point for you? Or would you like to see The Umbrella Academy continue through Season 5 and beyond? Tell us below.
Getting to a fourth season is a Netflix miracle. Only their biggest hits and signature series do so. I’m glad he is planning accordingly. I like when they end projects properly.
This is a series that should go on for decades like “Doctor Who”. If the material is there for the series to last a decade or two, why not do it? This show has proven it can reinvent itself every season, to the point where it looks & feels like a brand-new show every time. Too many showrunners want to end their shows before they have even begun. Too many showrunners are revealing their potential endgame before the show has a chance to be seen & this is dangerous because we now live in a culture, in which, most networks have now adopted the streaming model, where your show is lucky to last beyond a single season, let alone three. Gone are the days of a show getting past 100 episodes or getting 10, 15, 20 seasons. And plus, you have a public that is in ADD mode. Sure, there are expectations, like “Doctor Who”. But, these shows get cancelled or just abruptly end before the show has a chance to find an audience or make a real impact. Sad.
If the show were on network tv, there’d be a better argument for the show going on as long as some of these procedurals, but there aren’t too many streaming shows that get to/go beyond 5 seasons, especially at Netflix. They’re infamous for canceling shows anywhere from after their first, second, or third season. Going beyond that is a rarity, and Netflix would cancel the show before they opt to pay the cast more money. The showrunner is smart to have an overall plan in place to give fans closure. That’s the mindset all the showrunners should have these days, especially if their show is on a streaming service.
It was an excellent season 3! I trust that season 4 will be amazing as well! love to go as far ade these incredibly talented minds will take this cast! No disappointment from Me:) without powers, 5 can begin to age, so I think it can goooooo!:)
It’s best that they know it’s ending with S4 and can write a proper conclusion.
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Seriously, I how many more times can the siblings stop the apocalypse before it gets old 😂
Why does it have to always be about saving the world & the universe? The show could have a season where the siblings struggle to adapt to their new environment..
Who would want to watch that?
I think this season did do that.
And they did it last season too going back in time.
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Number 5 was tired of it even during the first season. I mean it’s the been the basis of the series since day one…something happens (usually of their own doing) causing a catastrophic event in which they have to save the world/universe.
Hopefully they’ll get a 4th season and are able to end it like they want. From what it seems this is one of Netflix’s biggest show so I would think it’ll get a 4th but I also agree if the writers want to end it there they should. Unless it’s “Stranger Things”, “The Crown”, or any of their highly rated shows they’ll go beyond that. And having had so many shows on there think they were safe it’s much better to do the series finale just in case so hopefully they’ll get the chance since this season did end on such a cliffhanger. Plus there will always be the comics too.
I don’t know how much more they can do to destroy the characters… I’m okay if we end with season 3. Everyone is pretty much unlikeable at this point.
I love the umbrella academy I would love to see up to season 5. I need to know who is that woman and is she the mother to the umbrella academy and the sparrow.
We all do. Fingers crossed as to if we’re lucky enough to get a season 6.
The woman was in an episode of Season 1, and her identity was confirmed in Luther’s flashback in episode 9 of this season.
As a fan I’m more than okay with them ending in season 4, as others have pointed out most of the siblings have become nearly insufferable, Viktor’s self-righteousness and Klaus’ sudden burst of naivety this season were tough to swallow, and I really want them to find real happiness like Allison did (I couldn’t fault for her trying everything to get back to her daughter, even siding with their alien father).
I’m grateful that a fourth season should be coming soon, as I am a big fan of Gerard Way’s work. The fact that they could end the show after season 4 would require good planning towards everyone involved, but if Netflix feels that the show deserves another 1-2 seasons after season 4 would be incredible.
Of course, concluding the show a little early would make sense, especially with Number 5’s actor, Aiden Gallagher. I’m actually his age, and we’re both turning 19 this year, whereas the character is supposed to be trapped in a 13 year old’s body eternally. If the show runs for too long, we could start to see changes to the timeless Five, effectively jeopardizing the show.
Regardless, I create content myself, so I understand the struggles everyone has to create a story and bring it to life, both cast and crew. But regardless of whether or not The Umbrella Academy graduates in Season 4, a show this good deserves a satisfying conclusion to everyone who has been around since episode 1.
I thought season 3 was too long. The Umbrellas went through a lot of the same plot points, fights, and attempts at personal development as in the previous seasons. (And the new Sparrows were mostly such jerkwads that it was annoying to have them around.) A lot of this season was fun to watch, but they could have told the whole story in 6 to 8 enjoyable episodes.
For the love of God!!!!!!
Stop canceling all the good shows!!!!
I would have ended it with S3. This season was a bit of a mess. Ok, they give us the iconic sceses (Footloose anyone?) and everybody’s happy ! But the plot is a mess. They go one way for 8 episodes, then they go another way for the last 2, abandoning the first way. WHAT ???
3 seasons and the plot is more or less the same: the world is ending, they more or less save it in a way or another, then they jump into a new reality, where the world is ending.
S4 ? They have to get their powers back because… guess what ? The world is ending ! (and I have not read a page of the comic !)
One of the best comments about Season 3 IMHO was one posted by a viewer at another site–Basically saying it was comforting and relatable that even if dealing with apocalyptic events they also would be likely still bickering with their family members in a short amount of time as opposed to the trope that everyone will unite in a long-term utopia that all their conflicts have melted away in united purpose.
These days, any show is lucky to get picked up at Netflix. They’re bleeding money due to the loss of subscribers. Expensive shows get canceled if they’re in seasons 3 or 4. I’d give it 60/40 against.
I love the show and this last season, but I believe that no show should go longer then 4-5 seasons. If the next one is not the last, then 5 defiantly should be. There is only so many times a group can jump start and stop the apocalypse, and there is such a thing as to much of a good thing. Hopefully they start working towards a satisfying end game instead of the road of cancellation and no ending.
I’m sadly not holding my breath for a 4th season, as much as I want one. We all know how Netflix works
Plus, they really seem to want season 3 to be a failure so they can cancel it. They premiered on a Wednesday days before Stranger Things part 2 and they barely advertised it.
Please Netflix, make me look like a major fool and prove me wrong.
I think it’s interesting so many comments refer to Doctor Who as a possible template for the show going on over years. But the thing you want to think about is, Doctor Who is British. Made by British folks. They are different. Now, having said that, I think it’s quite fair to look at it that way. Picture how the Doctor Who creators might work with Academy, and yes, indeed, there’s a whole lot of possibility there. Huge possibility, considering we’ve got a bunch of central characters and a million possible storylines. I’m not saying I have to have this happen, just that I like the idea and it would be nice if somebody thinks about it.
Disappointment = 3rd Season
Seasons 1 & 2 = Great
graphic novels = Great
Season 3 still had a great cast and portrayed the characters well, and CG was well done for its genre.
Sadly, Season 3 was filled with disjointed character narratives (excluding the infrequent minute character growth), intermittent cheap action scenes and underwhelming villains (Mighty Morphin Power Rangers had better villains and action sequences), and a storyline / plot worse than The Final Destination sequels.
What the hell happened? Was it Netflix? The producers? The director? Low budget? Regardless, Season 3 was a fart.
If there is a Season 4, I really hope it doesn’t end up like most Disney sequels.
Let this go on for decades. I LOVE this show. And I absolutely hate Netflix always cancelling shows after a few seasons.
I want the season to last forever
I think if they have a season 4 it definitely needs a different plot other than the world ending. I also think they should spend less time arguing with each other and spending more time on the plot.
Season 3 was good except for the last episode, just ok and confusing. Do hope for a final season 4 but PLEASE drop Alison character way to drawn out! And between Alison and Victor apologizing back and forth…move them on.
The umbrella academy is a show worth watching! Not predictable, very entertaining!! Must go on!!!
We enjoyed it fun good times with the show it kinda reminds me of the X Men because all of them are kind of like mutants and because I know everything from the comics of Marvel from when Hugh Jackman was In X Men and now he is in Music Man and I even met him.
Klaus is my favorite character