As a dedicated fan of The Umbrella Academy, I can’t help but feel a profound sense of nostalgia as I reflect on David Castañeda’s journey with the series. Over the past five years, his portrayal of Diego Hargreeves has mirrored his own growth and transformation, making their bond more than just an actor and character relationship – it feels deeply personal.
Ever since its debut, playing Diego Hargreeves in The Umbrella Academy has been deeply personal for David Castañeda. Over the past five years, he’s immersed himself in this role that contributed significantly to Netflix’s massive viewership in 2019.
Stepping into the shoes of a gamer reflecting on Umbrella Academy, I can’t help but see myself in this endearing yet dysfunctional family of six superpowered siblings from the comic book series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. Created by Steve Blackman and Jeremy Slater, we follow their mission to prevent an impending apocalypse. With season four dropping last Thursday, marking the show’s conclusion, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia as I look back on this journey that mirrors my own experiences.
“At the beginning of season one,” Castañeda recalls, “I was extremely self-conscious and striving to show my worth.” At that point in his career, neither he nor anyone in his family had any experience in entertainment. “I was groping in the dark,” he explains, “learning as I went along by myself.”
In my perspective as a devoted fan, Diego Castañeda in the first season bore a striking resemblance to someone harboring a burden. His father, the cunning and enigmatic character played by Colm Feore, had left him abandoned, leaving behind an emotional void that he sought to fill. Endowed with the extraordinary ability to control thrown objects and knives, Diego channeled this skill into a self-appointed vigilantism, a role that others hadn’t exactly requested.
“Castañeda remarks that it was more like, ‘I’m doing this precisely because my father advised against it.'”
Castañeda focused more on the attitude rather than the specific details. “At around 25-30 years old, I believed I knew everything due to my intense fear of not knowing anything at all,” he recalls. Now, aged 34, “I acknowledge that I know nothing, and I’m comfortable with it. This acceptance fosters a sense of curiosity, openness to learning new things, and even surprise.”
He adds, “I think Diego had sort of the same issues.”
In the fourth season of The Umbrella Academy, their superpowers have vanished following an attempt to save the universe in the previous season. Without their extraordinary abilities, they’ve slipped into monotonous routines of unsuccessful family life. Diego and Lila (played by Ritu Arya) are now a married couple with a child. He’s struggling to balance his role as a father and husband, and he’s not doing well at it.
As a gamer, I’ve been pondering over Diego’s thought that being a family man might hinder his potential for greatness. To him, the conventional notion of what it means to be a man, a father, and a husband doesn’t seem like a natural state of being. Instead, he seems to question if these roles could potentially limit his personal growth.
Revisiting a personal note, Castañeda found himself contemplating his identity. “Many men I’m acquainted with are married, some thriving, others not,” he muses. As the new season approached, the actor began reflecting on his role as a partner and a man seeking emotional connection. Diego often holds back his own potential, projecting it onto those close to him, almost like an underlying resentment for feeling accountable.
Concurrently, Castañeda underwent personal growth from the first season. “I no longer carried that burden,” he explained, allowing him to poke fun at himself and lighten up, which resulted in a greatly enhanced overall enjoyment of the experience.
The outcome led to a distinct approach in the preparation for season four, as opposed to merely analyzing scripts, it involved delving deeper into dreams and exploring the depths of my unconscious mind instead.
In addition to his ongoing learning experience, this season saw the addition of Nick Offerman and Megan Mullally as Gene and Jean – a murderous couple who lead a secret organization. Although they were known for their ruthless methods, Castañeda found himself drawn to these new characters despite the impending doom they seemed to foretell.
“Gene and Jean’s bond felt incredibly wholesome, despite their unconventional actions,” he notes. To be honest, their deep affection for each other appears far more organic than the strained relationship between Diego and Lila. Whenever I was in their presence, it was as if I was observing professional couples therapists at work,” Castañeda adds.
Furthermore, he notes, Offerman and Mullally were simply charming – their appeal heightened when it was learned they asked to be part of the series as avid fans. “That was fantastic,” Castañeda expresses.
The excitement for the fourth season of Umbrella Academy encountered an unexpected obstacle this summer, as allegations about a toxic work environment on the show’s set surfaced in a report by Rolling Stone. Later, Blackman’s representative dismissed these claims to THR, stating they were completely false.
“When asked about the ongoing debate, Castañeda humbly admits his limited knowledge. However, based on his personal encounter, he finds the individual exceptional. He can only express his feelings from a single perspective – their interactions since 2018 have shown him nothing but a genuinely caring mentor.”
Closing the set of ‘Umbrella Academy’, Castañeda likens the experience to a student completing their final exam. At the press event two days later, he drew an analogy between the series’ four seasons and the four years of high school: “Freshman, sophomore, junior senior,” he stated. “It’s time for graduation.”
What’s he moving on to next? It’s the upcoming John Wick movie franchise installment, “Ballerina,” set to release in 2025. Castañeda excitedly shares, “It’s a lifelong dream come true! I met with producer Chad Stahelski, and I couldn’t help but feel like he was about to say ‘Yes. Yes!'”
Umbrella Academy season four is now streaming on Netflix.
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2024-08-09 18:25