The name’s Viktor: Elliot Page’s Umbrella Academy character will reflect actor’s own transition

Elliot Page has shared the news that his Umbrella Academy character will reflect his own transition in the new series.

“Meet Viktor Hargreeves,” he wrote on Twitter and Instagram, sharing a picture of his character sitting alone at a dark bar.

Though Page’s character was previously known as Vanya and used she/her pronouns, the character will now be called Viktor and use he/him pronouns in the show’s third season.

Netflix confirmed the news in its own tweet, sharing Page’s post and writing: "Welcome to the family, Viktor — we’re so happy you’re here."

When Page announced his transition, Netflix confirmed that he would continue to appear in the show, though there were initially no reported plans for Netflix to change the gender of his character.

During filming, showrunner Steve Blackman commented on the shift in Page’s mood since coming out, saying: "It seems like there’s a tremendous weight off his shoulders, a feeling of comfort.

“There’s a lightness, a lot more smiling."

The same feeling was evident in the reaction to his new post, with fellow star Justin H. Min writing, “Ben would be so proud,” in a reference to his on-screen character.

Emmy Raver-Lampman, who plays Alison Hargreeves, also commented on Page’s Instagram post, writing: “I love you.”

Page came out as transgender in December 2020, writing: "I am trans, my pronouns are he/they and my name is Elliot, 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."

The third season of Umbrella Academy will air on Wednesday, June 22. Though season two saw the supernaturally-gifted Hargreeves siblings travel back in time to 1963, the new season deals with the ramifications of their meddling with the timeline.

As a result, they will be forced to contend with the new, alternate timeline Sparrow Academy.

“Will they find a way back to their pre-apocalyptic lives?”, reads the Netflix synopsis.

“Or is this new world about to reveal more than just a hiccup in the timeline?”