The hugely popular A Series of Unfortunate Events novels will get a second shot at an adaptation, on Netflix, and a new trailer has arrived.
We just got an official release date for Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events TV show. The series based on the series of bestselling children's books will hit the Internet on Friday, January 13th. Yep, Friday the 13th. We see what you did there, Netflix.
We also got a new trailer for the show, and it gives us more time with Violet, Klaus, and Baby Sunny than ever before. Check it out below, along with everything else we know so far about this exciting adaptation...
A Series of Unfortunate Events Lastest News
"If you are interested in stories with happy endings, that story is streaming elsewhere. I would advise all our viewers to watch something more pleasant instead," Lemony Snicket tells us in the opening of the latest trailer for A Series of Unfortunate Events.
The new trailer is arguably the best yet, giving us more insight into the Baudelaire orphans' lives than ever before, as well as more glimpses at this awesome supporting cast, including Alfre Woodward and Joan Cusack. Check it out...
A Series of Unfortunate Events Trailer
Here's the first full-length trailer for A Series of Unfortunate Events and it's filled with misery, whimsy, and a fair amount of humor. As might be expected, Neil Patrick Harris' turn as the dastardly Count Olaf is featured (along with many of his disguises), but we also get to see more of Violet, Klaus, and Baby Sunny. Check all two-and-a-half miserable minutes for yourself...
And here's the previous trailer, in which Count Olaf is introduced:
There was also an earlier teaser featuring Lemony Snicket (Patrick Warburton) on the sound stage for the new show, in which Snicket urges you not to watch the new series and tells us how "the entire crew is suffering from low morale, a phrase which here means: currently under medical observation for melancholia, ennui, and extreme wistfulness."
Well, except for Neil Patrick Harris' Count Olaf. Check out the whole teaser for a listen of Harris' perfectly sinister joy as the dreaded Count Olaf. This show is going to be great.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Synopsis
Here's the official synopsis from Netflix:
Based on the internationally best-selling series of books by Lemony Snicket (aka Daniel Handler) and starring Emmy and Tony Award winner Neil Patrick Harris, A Series of Unfortunate Events recounts the tragic tale of the Baudelaire orphans -- Violet, Klaus, and Sunny – whose evil guardian Count Olaf will stop at nothing to get his hands on their inheritance. The siblings must outsmart Olaf at every turn, foiling his many devious plans and disguises, in order to discover clues to their parents’ mysterious death. The eight-episode series is a Netflix original production, executive produced by Emmy Award winner Barry Sonnenfeld and Daniel Handler, and premieres January 13, 2017 only on Netflix.
Neil Patrick Harris said on Live With Kelly that the TV show will be "a much darker take on the material than has been seen before." He also teased it as a four-quadrant show, i.e. Netflix is hoping that it will appeal to four different demographics: adults, 20-somethings, teens, and kids.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Cast
Neil Patrick Harris will be playing the evil Count Olaf (the role held by Jim Carrey in the film adaptation), Malina Weissman (Supergirl) will be Violet Baudelaire, and newcomer Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire. K. Todd Freeman has been cast as Mr. Poe, the Baudelaire's well-intentioned, but clueless banker.
As seen in the teaser above, Patrick Warburton (Rules of Engagement, The Tick) will fill the role of the in-universe narrator of the Baudelaire orphans' tragic adventures, played by Jude Law in the 2004 film version.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Episode Guide
The adaptation has been given a straight-to-series order of eight episodes. Neil Patrick Harris revealed via Live with Kelly that each books will get cover roughly two episodes, which means the first season will cover four of the 13 books.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Writers & Director
Barry Sonnefeld, who also produced the 2004 film, will serve as director and executive producer on the series, with book series author Daniel Handler penning scripts for the series. Lemony Snicket — a pen name for Handler — said in a 2014 statement regarding the Neflix adaptation:
I can’t believe it. After years of providing top-quality entertainment on demand, Netflix is risking its reputation and its success by associated itself with my dismaying and upsetting books.
We're very excited to see Netflix hopefully get this beloved book series right as a TV adaptation. The 2004 film was great, but never got the sequels it deserved. Netflix’s head honcho of original conent Cindy Holland said:
On the search for fantastic material that appeals to both parents and kids, the first stop for generations of readers is A Series Of Unfortunate Events. The world created by Lemony Snicket is unique, darkly funny and relatable. We can’t wait to bring it to life for Netflix members.
A Series of Unfortunate Events Images
Prior to the release of the second trailer, Neil Patrick Harris teased the new footage with this look at one of Count Olaf's many disguises...
Captain Sham was the disguise Count Olaf donned in the third A Series of Unfortunate Events novel The Wide Window. He uses the disguise to woo Aunt Josephine. Dastardly fellow.
In other recent news, Netflix has launched two secret sites previewing some lovely concept art from the show, including this glimpse of "The Bad Beginning" and this glimpse of "The Reptile Room."
More news as we hear it.