"Meet Viktor Hargreeves."
Elliot Page has revealed that his character on Netflix's
Umbrella Academy will come out as transgender in season three.
Taking to Twitter on Wednesday, the actor, who plays Vanya in the show, shared an image of his renamed character sitting at a bar.
"Meet Viktor Hargreeves," he wrote in the caption, alongside a purple umbrella emoji.
https://twitter.com/TheElliotPage/status/1508897094152568835
Netflix's official account later tweeted: "Welcome to the family, Viktor — we're so happy you're here."
The streaming platform confirmed in an official statement that Page’s character “will come out as transgender in season three and be henceforth known as ‘Viktor Hargreeves.’”
However, it's not yet known how or if Viktor’s transition and journey will be written into the show.
Elliot
publicly came out as transgender in December 2020, sharing the news with fans via social media.
In an interview with Times magazine, he said:
"I felt like a boy. I wanted to be a boy. I would ask my mom if I could be someday. I became a professional actor at the age of 10. Of course I had to look a certain way.
"I just never recognised myself. For a long time I could not even look at a photo of myself...
"I didn't know how to explain to people that even though I was an actor, just putting on a T-shirt cut for a woman would make me so unwell."
The third season of Umbrella Academy began filming in early 2021. At the time, show runner Steve Blackman said he had notices a change in Elliot.
“It seems like there’s a tremendous weight off his shoulders, a feeling of comfort. There’s a lightness, a lot more smiling.”
Page also said that, while it took some adjusting for his coworkers to call him by his new name and pronouns, he felt seen and acknowledged by them.
The Umbrella Academy season 3 lands on Netflix on 22 June.
