‘Umbrella Academy’ star on what makes his flawed hero tick

David Castañeda

David Castañeda, who plays knife-throwing vigilante Number Two aka Diego Hargreeves in “The Umbrella Academy,” understands why his character remained a costumed hero after most of his sibling teammates quit crimefighting.

“[Diego] doesn’t know what else to do,” the Mexican-American actor recently told The Hollywood Reporter. “He’s a kid in a man’s body. Diego sees his siblings … they have these amazing powers and they’re not using them for the good [of people] or at least what they got programmed to do by [their dad].”

The hit Netflix show has been renewed for a second season. The comic book that inspired the series is cocreated by ex-My Chemical Romance vocalist Gerard Way, who, in an Instagram post, welcomed the changes made to the angsty Number Two—including the fighting style and other subtle touches.

“He is played wonderfully by [David], who has talked to me about how he wants to further embody the character,” Gerard wrote. “My favorite moment of his is when he is outside the academy … and he starts to stutter. My heart broke.”—OLIVER PULUMBARIT