The Hargreeves siblings have scattered after the climactic showdown at the Hotel Oblivion led to a complete reset of their timeline. Stripped of their powers, each is left to fend for themselves and find a new normal — with wildly varying degrees of success. Yet the trappings of their uncanny new world prove too hard to ignore for very long. Their father Reginald, alive and well, has stepped out of the shadows and into the public eye, overseeing a powerful and nefarious business empire. A mysterious association known as The Keepers holds clandestine meetings believing the reality they’re living in is a lie and a great reckoning is coming. As these strange new forces conspire around them, the Umbrella Academy must come together one last time — and risk upsetting the shaky peace they’ve all endured so much to secure — to finally set things right.
The Umbrella Academy: Season 4 is streaming now on Netflix.
The Umbrella Academy: Season 4 is streaming now on Netflix.
Category
😹
FunTranscript
00:00All right, everybody, this is a big honor.
00:02We are huge fans, as you know, on the Preston and Steve show of the Umbrella Academy.
00:07Preston Elliott leading the charge when it comes to this series, convinced us all to watch it.
00:12And it is sort of a double-edged sword here because we're getting to meet one of our favorite cast members on the way out.
00:19But it's okay because we are thrilled to meet David Castaneda.
00:23David, how are you?
00:25I'm good. I'm good, Steve.
00:27Sorry, I've showed up at a wrong time where your whole team can't be there, but thanks for having me.
00:33Stop and think about it, David.
00:34Isn't this series for all its years about wrong times and right times and timelines?
00:39So it's actually apropos, is it not?
00:42I think so.
00:43You know, always right people, wrong timeline.
00:48Exactly, exactly.
00:49And to that point, you wrapped up filming on the show about a year and a half, a year and three quarters ago, correct?
00:57Yeah, we wrapped in, I believe, late May of last year.
01:03So to that point, let me ask you, because it blows my mind when you've been involved with this thing.
01:09You've been immersed in this show and you've created this character.
01:12You've gone through so many evolutionary paths.
01:15And then you sort of say goodbye and you've had your, you know, parting with your castmates and friends, I'm sure.
01:23And here you are revisiting it.
01:25Is it like encountering an old girlfriend at a supermarket?
01:29What is the experience like?
01:30You know, you sort of forget about it very quickly after you wrap.
01:36You know, you have the idea of like, oh, yeah, I'm not coming back to set, to this set with these people.
01:42But you know that you're going to do press.
01:45So you are able to pretty much let it go very fast and not hold on to it because, you know, you're like, in, you know, quite some time, we're going to do press.
01:54We're going to start seeing the episodes.
01:55We have to do ADR.
01:58And so for a long time, you just don't think about it.
02:04Now, revisiting it and seeing the episodes and seeing all the cast and going to the premiere, now it's starting to kick in because you're starting to see the reaction that people are having, the questions that are coming about the ending and how that was.
02:20And now getting an opportunity to revisit those moments are starting to feel a little bit more, oh, this is, we're ending.
02:29We're ending, ending.
02:31So the fourth season.
02:34Go ahead.
02:34Yeah.
02:35No, I would say it won't hit me, hit me until I think a few weeks after the show comes out.
02:40I think that's when, you know, because in seasons two and three, we knew that after a few weeks, we got renewed.
02:48Yeah.
02:48Yeah.
02:49Yeah.
02:49Well, of course, the series was, you know, the brainchild of Gerard Way from My Chemical Romance.
02:54I assume you now have the entire My Chemical Romance library in your music portfolio, correct?
03:01Is that part of the deal?
03:02You have to be a My Chemical Romance fan from here on in?
03:06I mean, I think I'm a Gerard Way fan.
03:10And My Chemical Romance happens to be a pie product of that.
03:13So, yes, I will say that, I mean, I've always I think his music has sort of permeated my childhood, even though I didn't know who My Chemical Romance was growing up, mostly because I moved from Mexico to the U.S.
03:27by the time I was 13.
03:29So that's around my around My Chemical Romance was like at its peak.
03:33And so I just knew the music.
03:35I didn't know the actual band.
03:36But now, you know, based on a lot of public shaming, I had to understand who My Chemical Romance was.
03:45No.
03:45Well, yeah, you handle that well.
03:47So I got to ask you, harkening back to the earlier question about so it's wrapping up the fourth season, bittersweet throughout the show, you know, and it's the nature of shows like this where you have long pauses between seasons.
04:00And this is a complex show, but it's it delivers if you spend time with it, if you go along on the journey, you are well rewarded for going off in these multi timelines and all the things that occur to the different characters, a lot to keep track of.
04:14But you as an actor, what did that force you to do?
04:18Do you have a very good memory?
04:19Did you find yourself having to watch previous seasons?
04:22How did you keep up on the timeline?
04:24I always feel, you know, characters always stay with you years after you finish them.
04:30And the same was with Diego.
04:33Once I finished season one and I got back to season two, I knew the pillars of who this character was.
04:40And so revisiting it was really easy.
04:43It wasn't hard.
04:44I just sort of knew that there was a pickup point.
04:47And thankfully, Steve Blackman and the writers, they were able to to be to keep the characters true, yet find new ways of how they were going to grow from season to season.
04:58And so a lot of it had to do with, oddly enough, parallel growths within myself and the character.
05:07So the beauty of it is, you know, between seasons as a person, I change, I evolve.
05:14And so the tools and the lessons that I take within seasons, I'm able to bring into the new Diego.
05:20Yeah, and to that point, so season three ends.
05:24It's a big showdown at the Hotel Oblivion, which, by the way, is a horrible name for a hotel.
05:29But that said, everybody goes through a big titanic, tectonic shift.
05:37Powers are lost.
05:38And it's funny because I don't want to ask you about this.
05:43In describing what happens to the siblings, the phrase normal was thrown around.
05:49Now they're normal.
05:50Now they're normal.
05:50But I contend that, no, they're not normal.
05:53They've lost something.
05:54They've lost a huge part of who they are.
05:56And I think Diego, in particular, seemed to predicate a lot of who he was and what he meant in this world and the multiple worlds on being a superhero.
06:08So I find your character's arc really fascinating in that I think in season four, the impact is going to be that much more felt.
06:18I think so.
06:19I felt that going into season four without powers, I want to say, made Diego a lot more relatable because he is just trying to be a good father and a good husband and still living in the past and identifying himself as a superhero.
06:41And not having powers has sort of built resentment in the life that he has now.
06:48No, I was going to say, that's sort of the starting point where Diego is in season four.
06:59You know, it's interesting because you're a father in the series, you know, Reginald.
07:03And in a way, the sins of the father are visited on you, your character, Diego, a little bit.
07:09Do you know what I'm saying?
07:11Yeah.
07:12Yeah.
07:13Yeah.
07:13And our unconscious, you know, Diego's interpretation of what it is being a good father and a good husband is just doing what his dad didn't do.
07:25But that's, but there's no base because he's still looking back at what was.
07:34Right.
07:35And so I was reading your assessment and you were, you know, you had a couple of different pieces about you and you were talking about season four giving you the chance to explore the physicality and the movements of the body language of Diego.
07:53You know, explain what you meant by that.
07:55Well, I always felt like in the first season, I was really trying to play the prototype superhero kind of tall, you know, hands already by the side, almost like a soldier and, you know, very stoic.
08:12And I felt that in season four, there was a little pudginess, there was a little meekness, there was a little bit of subdued behavior and ways of being around Lila that had sort of crouched him and had a weight on him that was sort of unseen.
08:33And, and, and, and, and navigating Diego through the umbrella world in that form, I found it very freeing.
08:44Almost like a, almost like.
08:46Is it, is it, is it, from your, from your point as an actor and I, and, and this is, you start the show and there were, you know, obviously we've had a whole glut of superhero things.
08:56Of course, the Umbrella Academy approached it in a, in a, in a different way there to me, it's more of a, I like it in, in some ways to like the Adams family, or, you know, there are people who are unique in all their different ways.
09:08And they, they have their, their things.
09:10Now, mind you, there's a lot more fighting and a lot more desperation that goes on with you and your siblings, but it's you, the people that you love the most and fight with the most are still the only people that understand you the most, because that's all you've got.
09:23So you, as an actor at the beginning of this, superhero, superhero, superhero, superhero.
09:29But was there a conscious effort to, to, did the story itself just lead its, its way into the more familial aspect, ratcheting a bit back on the superhero, or was that the way you guys chose to play it?
09:44I think that was a Steve Blackman thing.
09:47He, he was very focused on family dynamics and he was focused on the relationship with the father.
09:53With all of us, how, how we all were affected in our own way.
09:58And I think that was the big surprise because, you know, we, I personally just tried to ground Diego from, even from season one, I tried to bring his most honest self of how he would behave around siblings that had left the nest.
10:13And never fulfilled their potential, given that he felt a little bit underwhelmed with his power because everyone else had a very bombastic way of dealing with crimp crimes.
10:25And he was just sort of left with practical and obviously the knives aspect of it, but carrying that, and obviously me, myself having siblings and, and, and understanding those dynamics and being able to relate those to Alison and, and Victor and, and, and Luther and Klaus and five.
10:47And, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and the comedic aspect of it is that David being, being reflected in the writers or are the writers saying, we know you can handle this because that comedic aspect has to be a lot of fun for you.
11:04It is, it's so fun when the writers put it, this is very much the writers knowing, oh, you have it in you.
11:12Let's tap into that because, you know, me, myself, I am, I'm very different from Diego.
11:17I, I, I think he takes himself very seriously and, and me, myself, I, I, I'm a little bit on the opposite spectrum of that.
11:25And so when I did season one, I think the writers found some, some really, some real aspects that I bring that they're like, oh, that's funny.
11:37Let's, let's lean into that a little bit more on the seriousness.
11:40And I always felt that the, that seriousness really plays off well because everyone else thinks he's a joke.
11:48And, and because of that, you know, you'll see in season four, I think there's a lot more between Diego and Luther where they explore that sibling dynamic.
11:59Yeah.
12:00And a lot more sort of Abbott and Costello moments come out of that.
12:04It's really fun.
12:05It's really fun.
12:06It's heartwarming.
12:07It really is.
12:08And that makes you connect to these people who are extraordinary beings, but, but that's what makes it, I think, cut through.
12:14And, and, you know, getting deflated and getting, you know, I, I often say on the show that I am, I'm a big fan of people who are self-deprecating and we all tend to get, we'll get caught up in our own crap, you know, and we're like, oh, well, I don't know.
12:29And, and somebody comes along and deflates you.
12:32And, and as you mature, you realize sometimes you need that.
12:35And I think that's lessons that we all learn.
12:38I want to ask you because, um, a part of the show that's become, I, I must watch the, the dance sequences, the YouTube clips, you know, over and over constantly.
12:48They're just, they're just joyous.
12:49So for you, when they threw that at you, whether it be, uh, you know, footloose, or I think we're alone now, or what did you like?
12:57Oh, this is, um, I'm in my wheelhouse now.
12:59Or were you like, oh God, I, I can't dance for anything.
13:02So how did you approach it?
13:04Did you have skills to begin with?
13:06When I was, when I was in Mexico, uh, I used to dabble in break dancing when I was a kid.
13:13And so when, in season one, when they said, oh, you know, there's going to be a dance sequence.
13:18Do you need a dance teacher?
13:20And I was like, well, what's everyone else doing?
13:22Everyone's going to improv.
13:22And I was like, okay, I can do that.
13:24I'll improv.
13:25And I, at first I was, I was a little bit hesitant because I was like, wait, is, is this part of the characters?
13:31Does Diego know how to dance this way?
13:33Um, there's a lot of excitement season four.
13:36So where do we end up?
13:37Where are we going?
13:38Well, the siblings have no power, uh, and we catch up with them about five or six years later.
13:44So now they're fully, uh, as best as they can reintegrated into the civilization as normal humans.
13:52And for Diego specifically, he's got kids, he's got a wife, he's got a nine to five job,
13:59and he is, uh, partially resentful at the fact that he doesn't have his powers anymore.
14:06And, and, and so that sort of impedes him from really taking, taking his family in as the thing
14:14that he really needs and sort of has this, um, identity of being a superhero, uh, that he clings
14:22on so much that gives him validation that because he doesn't have any of it, it affects everything
14:28in his life with his wife specifically.
14:30And that's where Diego starts.
14:33Okay.
14:33So I, and I know this, listen, in any good superhero story, and this is, you know, you guys have
14:38been very unique about the way you've been approaching this since the beginning, but
14:42I got to imagine powers are coming back and I got to imagine there's a lot that's going
14:46to be going on.
14:46And I know for, and by fact that Nick Offerman and Megan Mullaly are joining the cast, uh,
14:52as is, uh, David Cross.
14:54Uh, those are great additions.
14:56I mean, Nick Offerman had a great, uh, uh, one of the greatest episodes of any TV show
15:01I've ever seen in the last of us, um, you know, and, uh, just did a terrific job.
15:05So they're joining, but they are villains.
15:07Can you at least confirm that?
15:10Uh, yeah, yeah.
15:12I can confirm that they're going to shake things up.
15:15They're going to shake things up.
15:16Okay.
15:17And so, uh, we are left with a whole bunch of things left unanswered, but in a way that
15:22is part of the thrill I want to ask you as I know, obviously you got into this because
15:27you love acting and you love television and film and all that stuff.
15:31We've all had our series and we've all had our, you know, spend, whether I spent it with
15:35lost or game of Thrones and people get very divided and they get very, you know, some are
15:40pissed off and some are thrilled when a series wraps up.
15:43Uh, we had, uh, Harold Pirineau, who's, uh, was on loss.
15:47He's on a new series called from, and I brought up how that show ended.
15:51My, my take is always this.
15:53If you enjoyed the ride mission accomplished, it's always hard.
15:56A lot of times to stick a landing the way, say breaking bad did as you're now on this
16:01end of it.
16:01How do you feel?
16:03How do you feel it wrapped up?
16:04Are you, are you completely happy with the story arc of Diego?
16:09I am, I am, I'm, I'm really happy.
16:14I'm fulfilled.
16:15Oh, you know, I would say I would have loved to do 10 episodes, uh, obviously just to kind
16:20of, you know, squeeze out all the storylines, but sometimes, you know, six episodes, I find
16:25myself watching a show that six and it's, it's damn near perfect because everything is
16:31condensed.
16:32There's not a single wasted minute.
16:34Everything means a lot more.
16:35And I feel like at the end, when I finished, I finished all six episodes already.
16:41I've, I had this sense of fullness, uh, at the end and I hope the fans had, you know,
16:48do so too.
16:49You know, it's funny is, is, and it's been pointed out to us by a number of people we've
16:52had out from different, you know, streaming shows.
16:55These are multiple movies that you've made, you know, for each.
16:58So it's six or seven episodes, but that's a couple of movies, you know, uh, worth of material.
17:03So we, we get very jaded and, uh, we want more, but I guess that's a good sign, especially
17:08with the, the Umbrella Academy, uh, which is streaming now on Netflix season four.
17:13And I, I have to tell you, by the way, I'm a huge fan of the movie Sicario and the sequel,
17:17which you were in, uh, and, uh, uh, how big a badass is Benicio del Toro?
17:24I have to ask.
17:25I mean, he's everything you signed up for, uh, he's, uh, he's a, he's a class act.
17:34He's a enigma.
17:35He's a gentleman.
17:37He's like all, you know, when I got to work with him, he was very supportive.
17:42You know, he wanted to rehearse the scenes with me in my trailer.
17:46He, uh, you know, he gave me notes and ideas about my character even before, you know, we
17:52spent a day on set and, and he even complimented me when we were doing the scenes, which sort
17:59of validated my entire career.
18:00If I'm honest with you, you know, you're sort of looking for that grain that's going to
18:03take you to the next step.
18:04And working with Benicio face to face was that's that grain of rice that I needed to feel,
18:10Oh, I can, I can do this.
18:14I have to imagine you, Benicio del Toro and Josh Brolin on the set.
18:18You got to be sloshing through the testosterone.
18:20That's how, that's how deep it has to be.
18:22I will say that there was a, there was a hawk, you know, there was a black hawk in, uh, in
18:28one of the scenes with Josh and I, and Benicio was in it too.
18:32And that, you know, and with, you know, these massive rifles and I was like, it doesn't get
18:36any more testosterone than that just black hawk landing in front of me just as I'm driving.
18:41And I'm like, this is amazing.
18:43Yeah.
18:43If you're switching through channels and you come across that, you know, you haven't landed
18:46on sisterhood of the traveling pants.
18:48You know that you're, uh, you're all right.
18:50All right.
18:50Who's dying today?
18:53Well, we're, we're, we're super excited, uh, for the umbrella Academy.
18:58We hope to see you in a more price.
19:00Is anything coming up we can promote here as we're talking about you?
19:03Uh, what, what's up in your future?
19:04I have, uh, uh, the John Wick spinoff ballerina, uh, that, yeah, that's, that's coming out.
19:11I think next year, like summer next year.
19:13So, oh dude, that is, so I'm a huge John Wick fan as, as are many people that, that whole,
19:18that whole world building is just precise and beautiful and fantastic.
19:23And, uh, no fantastic.
19:25Well, kudos to you on that.
19:26And congratulations with that.
19:27Uh, listen, really enjoyed talking to you.
19:30Congratulations on the umbrella Academy.
19:32I'm super stoked for the wrap up and for what else you may bring us in the future.
19:37Uh, David, thank you so much, much David Castaneda.
19:40We really appreciate it.
19:42Thank you, Steve.
19:43Thank you for having me.
19:44All right.
19:44And you guys enjoy the show.
19:45Thank you so much.
19:46Bye-bye.
19:47Bye-bye.
19:47Bye-bye.
19:47Bye-bye.
19:47Bye-bye.
19:48Bye-bye.
19:48Bye-bye.
19:48Bye-bye.
19:48Bye-bye.
19:48Bye-bye.
19:48Bye-bye.
19:48Bye-bye.
19:48Bye-bye.
19:49Bye-bye.
19:49Bye-bye.
19:49Bye-bye.
19:49Bye-bye.
19:49Bye-bye.
19:49Bye-bye.
19:49Bye-bye.
19:50Bye-bye.
19:50Bye-bye.
19:51Bye-bye.
19:51Bye-bye.
19:51Bye-bye.
19:51Bye-bye.
19:52Bye-bye.
19:52Bye-bye.
19:52Bye-bye.
19:53Bye-bye.
19:53Bye-bye.
19:53Bye-bye.
19:54Bye-bye.
19:55Bye-bye.
19:55Bye-bye.
19:56Bye-bye.
19:56Bye-bye.