Exclusive: "The Umbrella Academy" Star Justin H. Min Breaks Down that Huge Ben Twist
*Major spoilers for season 2 of The Umbrella Academy below!*
As most The Umbrella Academy fans already know, the show's perfect balance of humor, action, and drama make this series a must-watch for anyone who is looking for some good television. But in the most dramatic twist of the season, TUA reminds us that there is a lot of heart behind it as well, thanks to Ben, played by Justin H. Min. Although Ben is dead and is only able to interact with just one of his siblings, he still gave fans a sense of positivity and hope even in the series' bleakest moments. However, that all changed when in the show's ninth episode of season two, when Ben sacrificed himself to save his sister, Vanya. Although, it's a fitting send off for Ben, for fans, it actually felt harder to say goodbye to a character that was dead and living at the same time.
But in the season two finale, a surprise twist gives us a totally brand new Ben. Still alive in an alternative timeline, everyone's favorite character is back, but is certainly not the same person that fans have been falling in love with for the past two seasons.
Seventeen got the chance to talk to Justin H. Min about bringing Ben to life (again), finally seeing Ben interact with other characters, and the crazy rollercoaster of emotions he went through after finding out that it wasn't the end of his character after all.
17: We have to start by talking about Ben's sacrifice while trying to save Vanya in season two. It was definitely emotional to watch as a viewer. How was it bringing that scene to life?
Justin H. Min: Robert Sheehan is a brother to me and I love the guy to pieces, but I've shot every single scene with him for the last two seasons. The moment I saw Vanya and Ben together, I was immediately sold. It was nice to shoot and act alongside another sibling, especially someone as incredible as Ellen Page. We just hugged before filming, because we were so happy to finally be acting together. It was a very somber day on set. At that point, none of us had received the last few pages of episode 10. I actually thought that was my last scene. As Ben, I was saying goodbye to my family, but as Justin, I was also saying goodbye to my TV family and the show. I was in tears, hugging the crew, and thanking them for all they've done. It's also just such a quiet, intimate scene. You could hear a pin drop when we were reading those lines to each other because it was just an incredibly sad thing to shoot.
17: How did you find out about Ben's alternate timeline?
JHM: I was packing my bags, ready to leave Toronto, when I suddenly received this top secret email from [series creator] Steve Blackman regarding the final three pages of our script. I began screaming from the top of my lungs. I was gobsmacked. I'm so fortunate because Ben is not in the comic book. In Hotel Oblivion, the latest comic book volume, he started to make an appearance as it's starting to mirror the show to a certain extent. I had the privilege and honor of building this ghost version of Ben from the ground up. Reading those last few pages, I thought, 'Oh, my God, I get to do that all over again.' Plus, when do actors ever really get a chance to sort of build two completely new characters on the same show? For the new Ben to feel so different, almost the antithesis of the Ben that we know of, it's really exciting because those are the things that we really yearn for as actors.
17: I'm surprised to hear that they left you left in the dark for so long.
JHM: They've been doing that since season one. I didn't know who my character was until the day before I shot my first scene. Since they were diverging from the comic books, they didn't want anyone to know. His description was just "brother." I begged the production team to tell me and they said, "He's gonna be one of the Hargreeves." I was searching which one of the siblings I was going to be, but at that point, everyone had already been cast. I couldn't play a younger version of any of them, because none of them are Asian. I was very lost and confused. Steve Blackman later brought me into his office and told me what they were doing with Ben. So I wasn't surprised when they left me in the dark [again]. It's something that I've become very accustomed to on this show.
17: Ben got a chance to explore some more of the real world after taking over Klaus' body this season. How was working with Robert on that and showing that side of Ben?
JHM: It was an absolute blast! Ben has a bit more agency and independence this season. In season one, he just tags along with Klaus. But through the act of possession, thanks to the evolution and growth of Klaus' powers, Ben finally gets a chance to do what he wants to a certain extent in pursuit of own desires and needs.
Those possession scenes were very technical. Robbie and I would have to rehearse extensively with each other. I sent him videos of myself so that he could do his best impression of me. He started to imitate me whenever we were talking, which was annoying. But I understood why he had to do that and the end result turned out great.
17: Were you upset that Ben and Klaus weren't able to say goodbye to each other at the end?
JHM: I thought about that too. He wouldn't have been able to say those things to Klaus. It's like me and my own brother. We're rarely that honest, open, and vulnerable with each other as brothers about our feelings. Vanya is one of the few siblings that Ben felt really open to share those things, because he knows the amount of pain and trauma that she's gone through from being ignored and forgotten. It would have been really nice for Ben and Klaus to have a farewell, but I don't know if it would have been as moving with him as it was with Vanya.
17: Although the scripts haven't been written yet, what are you biggest hopes if the show gets renewed?
JHM: It's gonna be lovely to speak to everyone, open doors, and touch things. I'm very excited to do that if we get a third season. It will also be the first time that the Umbrella Academy have to face a version of themselves as potential enemies. The last two seasons, the antagonists have been these insane assassins. Except for Lila, who we discovered later on also has a supernatural ability. I'm just curious about how we're going to shoot a scene with 14 people [if they face against the Sparrow Academy]. Probably will take a week to shoot one scene, but we'll see how the writers figure that one out.
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