Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus release date, price, news and leaks

Among the Samsung Galaxy S20 line of phones, the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus is expected to be the larger-sized version that may boast higher specs, a bigger battery, and possibly even more features. We’ll find out for sure on the February 11 launch date, which we know thanks to Samsung’s official invites.

This could land as the Galaxy S20 Plus even though we originally expected it to be called the Galaxy S11 Plus. Rumors suggest Samsung is skipping S11-S19 for the round S20 in order to align the nomenclature with the year 2020. Cute.

What we’ve heard so far comes from leaks and speculation – like suspecting the S11 Plus will be a 5G phone. That’s because the next flagship chipset in line, the Snapdragon 865, requires a 5G modem installed on the device – but to save costs, we could also see a 4G model.

There's a greater question of what role the S20 Plus plays though, now that the S20 Ultra is rumored to sit above it as the maximum-spec'd model in the S20 line.

It could just be a larger S20, but given that Samsung typically follows Apple’s lead in phone lineups, we could see the standard S20 become the new affordable flagship, in a similar way to the iPhone 11. That would be in place of an S20e, so in that case the S20 Plus could be a 'standard' spec'd version, a larger version, or both. 

We've also heard that Samsung might be upping the display refresh rate to 120Hz paired with a 1080p screen, with the option to push it back down to 60Hz for a QHD+ resolution. 

Most other rumors refer to either the S20 or the rumored full-spec'd S20 Ultra, so we've referenced those that could potentially apply to the S20 Plus, too. Below then you'll find what little we know for sure along with the many leaks and rumors that we've heard, which together start to paint a picture of the Samsung Galaxy S20 or S11 Plus.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The next larger-sized Galaxy S flagship from Samsung
  • When is it out? Tuesday, February 11
  • What will it cost? Probably upwards of $ 999 / £899 / AU$ 1,499 

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus release date and price

The Samsung Galaxy S11 or S20 range is set to be announced on Tuesday, February 11 in San Francisco.

Based on past form, that means we could see the Galaxy S11 phones in stores the first week of March. That said, while the Galaxy S10 release date was March 8, this year's launch event is nine days sooner than last year's, so it's possible the S11 Plus will hit stores at the very beginning of March.

Samsung Galaxy Unpacked launch 2020

Samsung’s Galaxy launch invite that was sent to TechRadar

The Galaxy S11 Plus price could be the same as the S10 Plus's was at launch. That phone was $ 999 / £899 / AU$ 1,499 at launch for its cheapest storage size, rising to $ 1,599 / £1,399 / AU$ 2,399 for the largest 1TB/12GB version.

There's always a chance Samsung could price the Galaxy S11 Plus to be even more expensive – either because of its increased specs or for the inclusion of 5G, especially given the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G's starting price was $ 1,299 / £1,099/ AU$ 1,850. However, we won't know for sure until Samsung officially launches the S11 Plus.

But the initial price leak we've seen pegs the starting price at  €1,099 (around $ 1,215 / £926 / AU$ 1,775). That's for the Galaxy S20 Plus 5G – we haven't heard whether there might be a lower-priced 4G model.

The Galaxy S11 Plus could launch along with new premium wireless earbuds designed to rival the Apple AirPods Pro. These are rumored to be called the Samsung Galaxy Buds Plus.

Given the original AirPods-rivaling Galaxy Buds were released alongside the Galaxy S10, it would make sense for the new model to launch with the S11 range.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus name

While it makes sense that the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus would be the next numbering in the line after the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus, we could see it leap ahead, with rumors calling it the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus.

Since the handset will come out in 2020, we've heard Samsung might want the phone names to match the release year, for this model and those thereafter.

Specifically, according to few sources including a reliable leaker and potentially even the Samsung CEO himself, the whole line could be branded as the Samsung Galaxy S20, Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, and Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra, instead of (respectively) the S11e, S11 and S11 Plus we've been assuming.

Until we know for sure, we'll still mostly refer to this device as the Galaxy S11 Plus, but that will change if we get official word from Samsung that the new devices will be the S20 series. Confusing, but necessary.

We haven't heard much mention of a distinct 5G model in the lineup, though this isn't much of a surprise given how likely it is that Samsung will include 5G in each of the standard models. This would follow what the phone-maker did with the 5G version of the Galaxy Note 10 Plus, as opposed to crafting a unique 5G handset, as it did with the Galaxy S10 5G.

As a last naming rumor, we've heard the Galaxy S line could be discontinued: one source suggests that the S11 and Galaxy Note 11 will merge to create the Galaxy One, a new series that would combine all of Samsung's premium features into one smartphone line. While that's still a moonshot rumor, it would be unwise not to even consider it.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus news and rumors

Perhaps the most important leaks are the ones showing us how these new Samsung flagships could look, and we've seen leaks of the entire lineup.

In fact, we’ve seen several leaked renders of the Samsung Galaxy S11 range, and while the designs vary, there are a lot of similarities. Check out some here, others here, and even more here.

Just about every render we've seen shows the rear cameras as being in a large bump at the top left of the back of the phone. How they're laid out is less certain though, with some of the renders showing them in a single neat row while others point to a more haphazard arrangement, but some allegedly real images suggest something different to either of those options.

Hands-on images of the Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus, as it's called in the leak, show the lenses and flash laid out in two vertical rows within the camera bump, domino-style. 

We've also heard that the S11 Plus could have a punch-hole camera in the top-center of the display, similar to where it is in the Galaxy Note 10 range, which we've seen in leaked images. The source adds that the camera would be smaller than on the Note 10 range though, which lines up with leaked images that show a noticeably smaller punch-hole. 

Samsung Galaxy S11e leak

The most prevalent sizing rumor implies that the Samsung Galaxy S20 (which could launch as the lowest-cost model instead of the S11e) will have a 6.2-inch screen, while the S20 Plus (or S11 Plus) will have a 6.7-inch display, and the S20 Ultra will have a 6.9-inch screen. That’s a noticeable size increase over the previous generation's screens.

A remarkably complete spec leak, shown below, echoes those sizes, adding that the S20 Plus will have a 1440 x 3200 20:9 screen with 525 pixels per inch, and that the body of the phone will be IP68 certified and come in at 162 x 74 x 7.8mm and 188g.

As for the rest of the design, one rumor we've heard is that the standard Galaxy S11 might come in blue, grey and black colors, while the cheaper Samsung Galaxy S11e might come in more playful blue, grey and pink shades. Another leak suggests official colors: Cosmic Black, Cosmic Grey, and Cloud Blue.

That's a lot like how Apple has split hues on its iPhones between more restrained colors in the 'Pro' models and fun, vibrant hues for the less expensive version. The source doesn't say which colors to expect for the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus (or Ultra), but we wouldn't be surprised by a premium color for the premium version.

The screen meanwhile could feature a maximum 120Hz refresh rate, offering smoother interactions than the 60Hz offered by the S10 range. A 120Hz mode was allegedly spotted in a beta for Samsung's smartphone software, an assertion supported by another source.

A further leak backed this up with a fuzzy image specifically of an S11 Plus showing these options as well as a maximum display resolution of 3,200 x 1,440 WQHD+ – but crucially, the 120Hz mode can't operate at this resolution, which only supports 60Hz refresh rate.

That same leak suggests that the S11 Plus, and conceivably the rest of the line, is finally doing away with the headphone jack.

While we couldn't exactly see whether this was true with the alleged hands-on video included by the source of the leak (below), it would make sense, with the Galaxy Note 10 range and most other flagships already lacking such a port.

The Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus might come with new screen tech though, given that Samsung has trademarked the name SAMOLED. That sounds a whole lot like a new take on the AMOLED screens used by its flagship handsets, though we have no idea how SAMOLED would differ.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus camera

We’re anticipating that the the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus (or possibly the Ultra) will come with a 108MP sensor, an idea which is supported by not one but two leaks. This 108MP sensor is expected to combine nine pixels into one, which becomes the equivalent of 12MP shots that can take in plenty lot of light for far more vivid photography.

Exciting as this sounds, some more recent rumors (highlighted below) suggest that the Galaxy S11 Plus will actually just have a 12MP main snapper, with the 108MP lens reserved for the S11 Ultra, so don't count on seeing this on the mid model.

One source alleges that the S11 line's telephoto lens meanwhile could have a 5x optical zoom, and it might use a 48MP sensor. That would make for the most high-res zoom lens sensor we’ve seen on a phone yet.

While we haven’t heard too much about other lenses in the array yet, we’re expecting an ultra-wide angle lens, likely a depth sensor and perhaps even a macro lens, given that the recently-launched Samsung Galaxy S10 Lite has a macro lens.

We've also seen how the camera arrangement on the Galaxy S11 Plus (or Galaxy S20 Ultra) might look, as evidenced by the tweet below. A more recent rumor from the same source meanwhile implies a four-camera array on the rear of the Galaxy S11 Plus.

They previously claimed it would have five rear lenses, but they note that this new information is from a more recent prototype – which leads them to believe that four lenses is more likely.

This also aligns with one of the most recent renders we've seen leaked, but with so many different renders leaked into the wild, we have no serious idea what the rear array will look like.

We have seen an incredibly detailed spec dump – which would be more suspect if three sources who simultaneously revealed information on the cameras.

Camera Samsung Galaxy S20 Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus Samsung Galaxy S20 Ultra
Main 12MP 12MP 108MP
Telephoto 64MP 64MP 48MP
Wide-angle 12MP 12MP 12MP
Extras ToF ToF

If accurate, those would be some impressive specs, although it's suspect that the telephoto lenses have more megapixels on the smaller handsets.

This does however match the complete specs leak further up in this article, which adds that there's likely to be a 10MP front camera, 3x optical zoom and 30x digital zoom.

Indeed, we've heard a range of zooms cited for the telephoto lenses, but the general consensus seems to be 3x optical / 30x digital for the Galaxy S20 and S20 Plus, and a whopping 10x optical / 100x digital for the S20 Ultra, although that seems too good to be true.

We’ve also heard of plenty of neat features that Samsung trademarked which may end up in the S11 series, from a ‘Space Zoom’ astrophotography mode to a 'Bright Night Sensor'. The latter sounds a lot like a 'low light' mode but bolstered by dedicated hardware.

Elsewhere, hints toward several new camera features have been unearthed in official Samsung software code. There's Single Take Photo, which could use AI to automatically shoot photos at the prime moment; a Director's View mode for tracking a subject; the return of Samsung's Pro Video mode, allowing you to adjust the ISO, exposure and the like when shooting video; and a selection of new Live Focus bokeh and depth effects.

Samsung Galaxy S20 Plus specs and features

We’re almost positive the Samsung Galaxy S11 Plus will come with the Snapdragon 865 chipset unveiled in late 2019, which has been benchmarked with scores that beat any other phone. At least in the US, as has been tradition; everywhere else will very likely get an upgraded Exynos processor, likely dubbed the 9830 or Exynos 990.

We've also heard that the Samsung Galaxy S11 range will all come with a base 12GB of RAM, although that may spike up to 16GB or potentially beyond at the top end. What you could need this much RAM for in a smartphone is beyond us, but it shows just how high-end this range is set to be. Storage meanwhile is rumored to be 128GB, along with a microSD card slot.

As for battery size, one leak suggests that one of the Galaxy S11 models will have a 4,500mAh battery with another set to get a 5,000mAh one. The latter size is probably for the Samsung Galaxy S11 Ultra, but we'd expect at least 4,500mAh in the S11 Plus.

We've heard another rumor that the Samsung S20 Plus will debut an AirDrop-like service called Quick Share to, you guessed it, quickly share files. It seemingly only works between Galaxy phones, so it's unclear if it will eventually become as versatile as Apple's multi-platform service.

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iPhone 12 release date, leaks and what we’re expecting

We'll say it now: the iPhone 12 needs to be a huge change to Apple's smartphone. The iPhone 11 range brought very little in terms of an upgrade. With new camera tweaks and some more power inside, they were modest updates to the popular iPhone range.

So what will the next iPhone – the first of a new decade – bring? Is Apple going to give us a truly new iPhone instead of an incremental upgrade?

The good news is that in the build up to the iPhone 11 launch we heard lots of rumors and leaks of a much-altered iPhone. These include the possibility of a 5G iPhone model, new cameras, a new design, a supercharged screen… if all of those rumors were referring instead to the iPhone 12, it could prove to be the big upgrade we’re hoping (and waiting) for.

We've mixed together all the latest leaks and updates on the new iPhone in the article below, and added in some thoughts on what we're expecting, based on well over a decade of monitoring the growing rumor mill around the latest iPhone…

Latest story: A leak suggests the iPhone 12 range might not have a new design after all. Plus, some iPhone 12 models could get a big RAM boost, along with thinner, cheaper and more energy-efficient screens.

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The new iPhone from Apple
  • When is it out? Almost certainly September
  • What will it cost? We're expecting well over $ 700 / £700 for the base model

iPhone 12 release date and price

There aren't any official iPhone 12 release date rumors as yet, but come on – we're almost certain that we know when it'll appear. Apple launches its new phones almost metronomically, and while every year there's a rumor of it changing, it's always held to a similar time.

Firstly, the new iPhone release date will definitely be September 2020 – and it's always around the second week. So we're going to guess that we'll see Apple unveil the iPhone 12 on 8 September (or possibly 15 September if it wants to hit a later on-sale date).

You'll be able to pick it up 10 days after that, so you'll need a Friday off work if you're desperate to get your hands on one..

iPhone 11 Pro

When it comes to the iPhone 12 price, it’s likely to stay broadly in line with the current models. For reference, the iPhone 11 starts at $ 699 / £729 / AU$ 1,199, the iPhone 11 Pro starts at $ 999 / £1,049 / AU$ 1,749, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max starts at $ 1,099 / £1,149 / AU$ 1,899.

Having said that, one report suggests that the cost of materials for the iPhone 12 range might go up, which could mean even higher prices at retail.

iPhone 12 name

First things first: we're pretty confident the 2020 Apple phones will be called the iPhone 12 series, not the 11S or similar thanks to an industry analyst (with a great track record) saying as such.

That's why we're calling it the iPhone 12, even though Apple hasn't confirmed this name. Others might be calling it the iPhone 2020 or the 'new iPhone' – but we're not thinking that will be the moniker Apple plumps for.

iPhone 12 design

Apple could be making some big changes to the design and screen for the iPhone 12 range, including getting rid of the notch.

Or at least, one of the upcoming phones might lack a notch according to analysts, with the front-facing camera potentially set to be embedded under the screen instead. If this happens we’d expect it to be the most expensive iPhone 12 model that has this feature – likely the iPhone 12 Pro Max, or whatever it launches as.

Another leak suggests Apple is developing new Face ID tech which will lead to a redesigned and potentially slimmer notch. Allegedly, the company is trying out several combinations, including ones that minimize the front-facing optics so much that they fit in the top bezel.

One other report has also suggested Face ID will be dropped entirely in favor of an under screen fingerprint scanner.

We might get more than just a notch removal, with Kuo also saying that he expects the metal frame to be more like the iPhone 4’s frame, suggesting it won’t be curved like on current models. He also says that overall the design is likely to be “significantly” different to current iPhone models.

Then again, a more recent leak suggests that the designs will actually be staying much the same, other than some differences in the camera layout and the dimensions. Based on this leak, the 5.4-inch iPhone could be around 131mm tall, the 6.1-inch could be around 147mm, and the 6.7-inch model could be slightly taller than the 158mm iPhone 11 Pro Max.

However, it's also said to be thinner, apparently coming in at 7.4mm thick, while the iPhone 11 Pro Max is 8.1mm thick.

In any case, the leak above from Kuo affirmed several much-rumored trends, like the iPhone 12 Pro versions adding a time-of-flight sensor, the budget flagship adding a telephoto lens, and series-wide support for 5G as well as finally switching to USB-C. 

It might not just be the camera that’s built into the screen either, as Apple is also rumored to be equipping its next phones with an in-screen fingerprint scanner.

iPhone 11 Pro

This would be a big change for the brand, since current models don’t have a fingerprint scanner at all. That said, if the camera really is in-screen then it might not be possible to have all the Face ID sensors, so it could be that this fingerprint scanner will replace Face ID, though we're not convinced Apple would go that far.

As for colors, we've heard a rumor that the iPhone 12 will drop the forest green of its predecessor for a navy blue – a svelte hue more in line with dress colors, for sure. But like the divide between the 'fun' pastel colors in the standard iPhone 11 and the classier hues in the iPhone 11 Pro and Pro Max, we might not see the blue come to the lower-priced model.

A new display for the iPhone 12?

One or more 2020 iPhone models might also have a 120Hz refresh rate, up from 60Hz on current models. This – which has been rumored by a reputable leaker – could make interactions feel smoother. This is a claim we've now heard more than once, and some phones already have higher refresh rates than 60Hz, as do some iPads, so this isn’t unbelievable.

The screen sizes could be changing too, with respected Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo saying that the iPhone 12 Pro Max could have a 6.7-inch screen (up from 6.5 inches on the iPhone 11 Pro Max), and the iPhone 12 Pro could have a 5.45-inch screen (down from 5.8 inches on the iPhone 11 Pro).

He adds that the standard iPhone 12 will apparently stay at 6.1 inches, but will get upgraded from LCD to OLED. That’s a claim we’ve heard more than once, and would mean all three 2020 iPhones would have an OLED screen.

Another source has broadly agreed, but said to expect a 5.4-inch screen on the iPhone 12 Pro. They also said that the two Pro models will use a form of OLED that's both thinner and cheaper to produce than the screens used in the iPhone 11 Pro range. That could mean lower prices, but we wouldn't count on it.

iPhone 11 Pro

Elsewhere we've heard a similar selection of sizes, but that Apple could launch four new models in September. According to an analyst, Apple will launch a 6.7-inch phone, a 5.4-inch one, and two 6.1-inch ones.

They don't go into any more detail but that suggests there will be both a top-end and slightly lower end model in a 6.1-inch size, if this claim is accurate.

And it might well be, because it's claim that we've now heard again, this time from reputable Apple analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who adds that all four models will have OLED screens and 5G, but that one of the 6.1-inch models and the 5.4-inch one will have two rear cameras, while the other two models will have three.

We've also heard that at least some iPhone 12 models could have thinner, cheaper and more energy-efficient screens than the iPhone 11 range. This in turn may allow the phones themselves to be thinner, as well as lasting longer between charges.

iPhone 12 specs and camera

Another big change could take the form of 5G, which has been widely rumored for the iPhone 12. Kuo even says that he thinks all three models will support 5G. We fully expect at least one of them will, given that multiple sources have suggested as much and that a number of other phones already support 5G.

That could well be supported by a 5nm A14 Bionic processor inside the iPhone 12 – what that means for the average consumer is an iPhone with an even longer battery life and more power than ever. That would be rather impressive, given the iPhone battery life is currently the best we've ever seen from Apple.

The RAM could also get a boost, with analysts claiming that the iPhone 12 Pro and iPhone 12 Pro Max will have 6GB of the stuff, up from 4GB on their predecessors – though the standard iPhone 12 will apparently stick with 4GB. This is something we've now heard again, so it may well be true.

The iPhone 12 might also get a camera upgrade, with a laser-powered 3D camera rumored for inclusion. This would be on the back, and while only one rumor mentions lasers, another also talks about a depth-sensing snapper, while one mentions 3D sensing, so this might well be something we see in some form.

The last source adds that the two top models would get this, along with a triple-lens camera, while the two lower end ones would just get a dual-lens camera without 3D sensing.

Finally, there’s a chance that Apple could add a further handset to its line-up in 2020, likely the iPhone SE 2 (but with a different name). By the sounds of things this could be a lower-end option, but we’d take its existence with a serious side of salt.

What we want to see from the new iPhone

The iPhone 11 range is a strong – but safe, and thus a bit dull – upgrade for Apple. So for the iPhone 12 we want to see bigger, riskier changes, such as the following.

1. Exciting new features

First things first – the new iPhone needs to be good. Brilliant. Better than expected. We’re talking things that we haven’t even thought of. Things that we’re hoping Apple’s brightest minds are currently dreaming up in the company’s labs. 

This might sound like a very vague request, but Apple is one of the biggest companies in the world and if any brand could make a decent folding handset, or one with detachable VR glasses, it's Cook's Crew.

Because a tweaked design and improved specs are expected, ordinary, and no longer enough as consumers are holding onto their handsets for longer than ever. Come on Apple, give us something mind-blowing.

2. A new design

iPhone 11 Pro

Perhaps the thing we want most from the iPhone 12 is a new design. Apple has been rolling out basically the same design for several years now, ever since it refreshed the look with the iPhone X.

Sure, some things get tweaked, but the core is the same. And it’s starting to look a bit dated. That’s thanks mostly to the large notch, which might be necessary for all the camera components needed for Face ID, but which we’d like to see shrunk or removed if possible.

Beyond that, we’d really like a whole new look. There’s not too much wrong with the rest of the iPhone 11 Pro’s design, but it certainly feels overly familiar at this point.

3. An in-screen everything

We’d like the iPhone 12 to have an all-screen front, and one way to achieve that is to move the front-facing camera under the display. If Apple can effectively achieve that, it’s sure to impress.

While it’s on, we’d like Apple to re-add a fingerprint scanner, for those times when Face ID isn’t working quite as slickly as it should. But we want this in the screen too, or better yet, make the whole screen one big fingerprint scanner, as it has been rumored Apple might be planning for a future phone.

4. A higher refresh rate

iPhone 11 Pro

One way some companies are further improving their displays is by upping the refresh rate from the standard 60Hz. The OnePlus 7 Pro for example has an optional 90Hz refresh rate, while the Razer Phone 2 goes up to 120Hz.

This can help make interactions with the handset and animations feel silky smooth, so we’d like to see Apple offer a higher refresh rate of its own. It’s not out of the question, especially as some iPad Pro models have a refresh rate of up to 120Hz. Indeed, exactly that refresh rate has been rumored for the upcoming iPhones.

5. Further battery boosts

For the first time in years, with the iPhone 11 range it feels like Apple has really prioritized battery life in its phones, but we want the company to go even further with the iPhone 12. Or at the very least not go backwards.

We’re still waiting on an iPhone that can comfortably last two days, and we’d like the iPhone 12 (or at least the iPhone 12 Pro Max) to be it.

6. 5G support

Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus 5G

Apple is behind when it comes to 5G, as none of the iPhone 11 range offer it, while rival handsets like the Samsung Galaxy S10 5G and OnePlus 7 Pro 5G do.

Apple’s lack of support isn’t a big deal right now, as 5G coverage is still very sparse in most countries, but by the time the iPhone 12 launches it will be more widely available and a large number of other handsets will support it, so it will be time for Apple to jump on board.

The good news is that it’s heavily rumored that 2020’s iPhones will support 5G, so this is one thing we’re likely to get.

7. A lower price

We ask for this every year with new iPhones and this year we actually kind of got it, with the base iPhone 11 starting at less than the iPhone XR did. So it’s actually not impossible that we could see an even lower price – or a reduced price for the rest of the range – with the iPhone 12.

We wouldn’t count on it, but Apple’s more affordable phones are typically its best-selling in recent years, so there should be some incentive to cut costs where possible.

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The Umbrella Academy season 2: release date, cast, story and what we know

Netflix might've left Marvel shows behind with the final season of Jessica Jones, but the streaming service was far from ready to say goodbye to superheroes. The Umbrella Academy landed in early 2019, a big-budget adaptation of the cult favorite Dark Horse-published comic series by Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá. This show offered a radically different and exciting angle on superhuman fiction that immediately resonated with fans. 

Essentially a superhero story viewed through a quirky, Wes Anderson-shaped prism, the Umbrella Academy told the story of a dysfunctional superpowered family. The seven Hargreeves siblings were rounded up by an eccentric billionaire who put saving the world over good parenting, which did some real damage to the kids. 

With a smash hit first season behind it that was among Netflix’s top 10 shows of 2019, The Umbrella Academy season 2 is set to land some time in 2020. With the end of the world quite literally coming to pass in the final episode of season 1, expect an extremely different second year – read on to find out everything you need to know about what’s in store for the Hargreeves kids next time they team up for action…

The Umbrella Academy season 2 release date: 2020 (probably)

While The Umbrella Academy season 2 was confirmed by Netflix in April 2019 and shooting wrapped in November 2019, the streaming service is yet to confirm when the show will return to our screens. The closest Netflix has come to a clue is saying it’s “Coming Soon” back in October 2019 – which, frankly, could mean any time in 2020. 

Showrunner Blackman has also said it takes about 18 months to make a season, which – given that season one debuted on February 15, 2019 – would put season 2 somewhere around August. But seeing as shooting on the season is already complete, we’re hopeful we might see something sooner. 

Netflix usually reveals release dates a month in advance, accompanied by a trailer, so keep that in mind as you wait. 

Cut to the chase

  • What is it? The second season of Netflix’s big-budget adaptation of Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s Dark Horse graphic novel series about a superpowered family.
  • Where can I watch it? Like the first season of The Umbrella Academy, season 2 will be available exclusively on Netflix. 
  • When can I watch it? This is still TBC, but it’ll almost certainly land at some time during 2020.

The Umbrella Academy season 2 story: what we expect

Right now, that’s the big mystery, because everyone connected to the show is playing their cards very close to their chests. 

It’s fairly safe to say, however, that the series will pick up directly after the end of season 1, where Number Seven/Vanya (who, unbeknownst to her family, had superpowers all along) blasted a chunk off the Moon – inadvertently causing the destruction of planet Earth. The teleporting Number Five saved the Hargreeves siblings by transporting them to another time – in the process reverting them to their teenage selves. 

“The truth is, we don't know where they are,” returning showrunner Steve Blackman told The Hollywood Reporter back in February 2019. “We don't know what happened to them. I wanted this to really be the best of cliffhangers, in that you're like ‘Wait, what? What happened?’ It gives us a lot of openness and legroom to tell the best story we can. But the apocalypse is not solved. They did not save the world, which is a slight alteration of the comic. To me, it was the right Netflix cliffhanger. You really want people to go into the off-season saying, ‘I gotta know what happened’, and that will be revealed when you see season two.”

All very mysterious – at least we know that the first episode of The Umbrella Academy season 2 will be called “Right Back Where We Started”.

While the TV show made a dramatic change from the comic book storyline because the Hargreeves siblings didn’t save the apocalypse, the show’s writer’s room is still using Gerard Way and Gabriel Bá’s graphic novels as a blueprint for the series. That means, there may be some clues in there – for example, it won’t be a surprise if The Umbrella Academy season 2 sees Number One/Luther dealing with depression, in the wake of revelations about his father’s decision to send him to the Moon for four years. 

“The goal is not to diverge [from the graphic novels],” Blackman told Indiewire. “Not everything translates from the graphic novel page to the screen, but there’s a legion of fans and I want to bring in a whole new legion of fans who’ve never read the graphic novel, so the goal is not to just go off in our own direction.”

And Gerard Way (arguably more famous for his other job as My Chemical Romance’s frontman) is keen that the planned eight-part graphic novel arc he’s writing with Bá’s should keep setting the agenda – nobody involved wants the show to overtake the source material as Game of Thrones did George RR Martin’s novels. 

“The goal for us is to stay ahead of the show,” Way said in the same interview, “and since we’re on series three [of the comics], we are now ahead of the show.”

And in case of emergency, Way and Bá have assembled an 18-page roadmap for Blackman and the rest of the writing team so they know where everything’s going.

What questions does The Umbrella Academy season 2 need to answer?

The mystery of Vanya/Number Seven’s apparent lack of powers may have been solved, but The Umbrella Academy season 1 finale left plenty of threads dangling still to be explored.

Crucially, we know that on October 1, 1989, 43 women gave birth simultaneously. We’ve met seven of them, but what happened to the other 36? Surely we’ll be encountering more superpowered 30-somethings in season 2.

Then there’s the mystery of Sir Reginald Hargreeves, the superpowered siblings’ adoptive dad. The flashback in episode 10, “The White Violin”, suggests he may have come from another planet, but how did he end up on Earth? And how was he so certain about the impending apocalypse that he was prepared to kill himself to reunite his kids to save the world?

We’ve also got questions about the true extent of Klaus/Number Four and Vanya/Number Seven’s powers, and how spiritual, tentacle-wielding sibling Number Six/Ben lost his life. And we’d really like to know more about The Handler and her timeline-managing Temps Commission.

Umbrella Academy season 2 cast: who's in the show

Although they’ll presumably be starting out in their teenage incarnations, the grown-up versions of the Hargreeves siblings are all back in action in season 2. 

That means returns for Tom Hopper (Number One/Luther – ability: super strength), David Castañeda (Number Two/Diego – ability: controlling the trajectory of projectiles), Emmy Raver-Lampman (Number Three/Allison – ability: can make people do anything she tells them to), Robert Sheehan (Number Four/Klaus – ability: talks to the dead), Aidan Gallagher (Number Five – ability: teleporting/time travel), Justin H Min (Number Six/Ben – ability: weird tentacle things) and Ellen Page (Number Seven/Vanya – ability: initially nothing, then everything). 

This Instagram post shows five of them having an on-set family reunion:

Three newcomers to the cast have also been announced – and seeing as they’re all the right sort of age to play 30-somethings, we reckon they could be members of that exclusive club of 43 superpowered sprogs born on October 1, 1989. The official Umbrella Academy Twitter account has this to say about them:

Lila (played by Ritu Arya)

  • A chameleon who can be as brilliant or as clinically insane as the situation requires.
  • Unpredictable, mischievous, sarcastic.
  • Twisted sense of humour.

Raymond (played by Yusuf Gatewood)

  • Born leader and devoted husband.
  • Has the smarts, gravitas, and confidence to never have to prove it to anyone. 
  • Has the innate ability to disarm you with a look.

Sissy (played by Marin Ireland)

  • Fearless, no-nonsense Texas mom.
  • Married young for all the wrong reasons.
  • Eager to rediscover what life and love has to offer.

And this is yet to be confirmed officially, but the timeline-hopping storyline means the apocalypse surely won’t have meant the end for time-travelling assassins Cha-Cha (Mary J Blige) and Hazel (Cameron Britton), or their boss The Handler (Kate Walsh). 

And somewhere between time travel, flashbacks and Klaus’s ability to talk to the dead, there should be numerous routes back for the deceased Sir Reginald Hargreeves (Colm Feore), the siblings’ android Mom, Grace (Jordan Claire Robbins), and chimpanzee assistant Pogo (Adam Godley).

Bring on season 2

The end of the Marvel shows on Netflix might be a blessing in disguise. Marvel Studios now controls all live-action versions of its characters, and it's seemingly pushed Netflix to adapt some more unusual superhero fiction. As well as The Umbrella Academy, the streaming service also has adaptations of comics by Kick-Ass creator Mark Millar on the way (which will be a very different proposition).

Being based on a non-Marvel comic clearly didn't hurt The Umbrella Academy's popularity at all. Let's hope we see many more seasons of it. 

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