Why The Umbrella Academy season 5 is not happening

Why The Umbrella Academy season 5 is not happening

As a seasoned gamer and binge-watcher of countless hours, I can confidently say that The Umbrella Academy has been a rollercoaster ride of emotions since its debut. The final chapter, season 4, was released on Aug. 8, 2024, marking the end of this unique, intriguing, and often heart-wrenching series.


In simple terms, the final chapter of “The Umbrella Academy” was officially unveiled on August 8, 2024, as the long-awaited fourth season hit Netflix screens. Back in August 2022, we learned that this would be the concluding season for the beloved Netflix original series.

In this discussion, we’ve delved into various opinions about the controversial ending of “The Umbrella Academy”. Additionally, we thought it would be interesting to explain why, despite the ongoing work on new volumes of the comic book series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Ba, a fifth season isn’t currently in production.

The Umbrella Academy was meant to run for four seasons

It appears that Steve Blackman, the showrunner, intended the series to span across four seasons. This was his initial proposal to Netflix, as mentioned in a TV Line report from June 2022, which came two months prior to the announcement of the show’s renewal for its fourth and last season.

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. When I started the show, I really only knew the first four seasons in my mind.

It appears that there were two key aspects to consider: firstly, it seems that the plan had been set in motion from the beginning; secondly, Blackman held some influence over Netflix regarding where he believed the story should conclude.

This quote from Blackman was also included in the TV Line report:

Netflix may want more than that, but I have a sweet thought of where I think the show should end and where we’re going.

As a devoted fan, it’s clear to me why the series is wrapping up in 2024 – it appears that this has been the vision from the start, and I couldn’t be happier for Blackman and his team to have the opportunity to conclude their masterpiece on their own terms. It’s a rarity in television to see such creative freedom extended, as often shows are cut short before their creators can bring their full vision to life.

The Umbrella Academy season 5 was discussed

Why The Umbrella Academy season 5 is not happening

Initially, Blackman intended for the series to conclude after four seasons. However, it seems there may have been discussions about a fifth season. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic and labor disputes among writers and actors are believed to have influenced the show’s duration, as suggested by lead actor Ritu Arya.

Arya shared with folks that Blackman expressed interest in working on The Umbrella Academy’s fifth season during the premiere of season 3, but ultimately, they all agreed it was more suitable to continue with their existing plan.

Just H. Min also shared some of the problems the cast and crew endured in the later seasons.

So many things happened, obviously, the main one being the pandemic and the strike and it delaying things. We almost spent a year gap between each of the seasons. Someone like Aidan, he’s literally grown right before our eyes. We knew at a certain point it was going to become unsustainable for us to draw this process out. I think ending it at four was the right decision and closing up all those storylines and questions that fans have had over the years.

Unfortunately, we’ve reached the conclusion of this journey, which is undeniably disappointing. However, it’s crucial that the series wrapped up as intended, rather than being cut short or prolonged, risking a loss of focus and ultimately becoming insignificant.

Wow, that was dramatic.

Why The Umbrella Academy season 4 is only six episodes

Why The Umbrella Academy season 5 is not happening

As a long-time fan of the show, I find myself pondering over this question that many fellow fans have raised. For the past three seasons, I’ve grown accustomed to watching ten episodes per season. However, when I heard that the fourth season would only consist of six episodes, it caught me off guard. Having followed the series diligently, I can’t help but feel a tad disappointed. The shorter episode count seems to disrupt the rhythm I’ve grown accustomed to and leaves me wondering what stories will be left untold. Yet, I remain hopeful that the writers will deliver a compelling narrative despite the reduced number of episodes.

Blackman has shared with Radio Times that they initially intended to produce a full season for Netflix, however, they ultimately opted for fewer episodes instead.

I had to do a little bit of compressing because we thought there’d be a bit more material, but it turned out to be a perfect number. Could we have done more? Yes, but I think the six we have are just the perfect way to end the season.

The shooting for season 4 concluded just before a potential actors’ strike. Had there been additional episodes in The Umbrella Academy season 4, the show might have had to pause production due to that strike, resuming only at the end of 2023 or beginning of 2024. This could have meant we would still be waiting for the final season instead of watching it in early August 2024, as we are now.

It seems uncertain what the outcome could’ve been, but I’m inclined to believe things wouldn’t have turned out as they did.

Following the finale of the series, I concur that six seasons would not have been ideal. Although I yearn for additional time with these captivating characters, extending the story might have been detrimental. The rhythm was somewhat uneven, and things didn’t always align perfectly until late in the season. It would have been intriguing to witness the Umbrella Academy grapple more with their responsibilities and the burden of the world, but the essence of it all was conveyed effectively. We witnessed every aspect unfold.

All in all, I thoroughly enjoyed this season and am content with how events unfolded. An additional four episodes would have been great, but I’m thankful for the entire experience.

All four seasons of The Umbrella Academy are now streaming on Netflix.

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2024-08-09 21:33