The Umbrella Academy has reached the beginning of the end. The fourth and final season of the Netflix series will premiere on Aug. 8 — and the official trailer for the last chapter previews complicated transformations and world-ending, life-or-death stakes for the once-supernatural collective.
“The tentacle boy is the key to understanding all the timelines,” a newly-introduced character portrayed by Nick Offerman states in the clip, referring to Ben Hargreaves. It also introduces Megan Mullally as Offerman’s on-screen counterpart. The pair portray Dr. Jean Thibedeau and Dr. Gene Thibedeau, respectively.
With its fourth season, The Umbrella Academy will conclude after five years. The goodbye will likely be bittersweet for fans of the superhero series based on the comic book series created and written by Gerard Way. But a number of staff members connected to the show will be less likely to mourn its ending.
Last month, an investigation from Rolling Stone revealed allegations of abusive behavior against showrunner Steve Blackman. Twelve staffers and a complaint to Human Resources accused him of fostering a hostile workplace in which women could be fired for not disclosing their pregnancies, prospective employees were fervently warned not to take the job, and staffers were pitted against each other through manipulative and retaliatory behaviors from Blackman.
“When we feel like one person holds the keys to our career, it’s hard,” one The Umbrella Academy support staffer explained. “They’re saying, ‘Hey, write these scenes,’ and making all these big promises, and you pour everything you have into the job only to be discarded after. It’s just devastating.… If we have protections for being credited for the work we do or have somebody to go to, I think it can protect us from this type of toxic behavior.”
A subsequent statement from a representative for Blackman stated: “Over six years and four seasons overseeing thousands of crew, actors, and writers, Steve Blackman led The Umbrella Academy to become a beloved series with devoted fans, enthralling stories, and a dedicated team making it all possible. These allegations from a handful of disgruntled employees are completely false and outrageous, and in no way reflect the collaborative, respectful, and successful working environment Mr. Blackman has cultivated.”
