Justin H. Min and showrunner Steve Blackman tease how growing up in the Sparrow Academy has changed Ben Hargreeves.
Sun’s out, fun’s out!
“I was in a complete haze.
Ben Hargreeves (Justin H. Min) and the cube named Christopher in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ season 3.Netflix
I gave them thank-you cards!”
But as usual onThe Umbrella Academy, things zigged when you thought they were going to zag.
This is the Sparrow Academy, and they count Ben a living, breathing Ben among their number.
Sparrow Academy members Ben (Justin H. Min) and Fei (Britne Oldford) in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ season 3.Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix
The Umbrella Academy we know and love are goofy, eccentric, and not always wise in their decision-making.
The Sparrows, by contrast, are efficient, well-trained, and merciless.
The Sparrows are superheroes who never knew how to be a family," showrunner Steve Blackman says.
Ben Hargreeves (Justin H. Min) is alive again in ‘The Umbrella Academy’ season 3.Christos Kalohoridis/Netflix
“That is the fundamental difference in how they go about being superheroes.”
The Umbrellas are delighted to see their brother in the flesh again.
But the Ben they remember is not the same as the person they now face.
I wanted to see how they reacted to this totally different characterization of Ben."
It’s not just his personality that’s changed, either.
Ghost Ben always wore heavy black clothes, while Sparrow Ben loves showing off his physicality in tight uniform.
“To be honest, it was exhausting,” Min says of his season 3 transformation.
“I think the previous version of Ben was fearful of his powers.
It’s a casual way for him to assert his superiority.
It’s something he whips out as a party trick and will do very casually.
He has control over it and he’s very proud of it.”
