It’s been a long, unfortunate decade since Lemony Snicket’s thirteenth and final installment of “A Series of Unfortunate Events” books was released in 2006. It’s been even longer since the unlucky saga of the Baudelaire children last graced the screen, in Paramount’s 2004 release of the series’ movie adaptation starring Jim Carrey. It’s been a while, indeed, since fans last saw the Baudelaires and their nefarious nemesis, Count Olaf, but, fortunately enough, the wait is over. Paramount Television and Netflix have joined forces to adapt Snicket’s “Series of Unfortunate Events” as a Netflix original series.
Little has been announced yet; it is unclear whether the 2004 film’s actors will reprise their roles or participate in any capacity, or whether the parts will be recast. So far, Paramount is scoping out possible directors for the project, and have announced their decision to fast-track production of the series, although it is currently unclear when filming may start or end. As of yet, the series has no clear release date, though with Netflix and Paramount backing it so strongly, fans can likely anticipate a premiere sometime within the next year or two.
Snicket himself reportedly oozed excitement upon receiving the news of the series’s adaptation to the small screen. “I can’t believe it,” he exclaimed in a press statement. “After years of providing top-quality entertainment on demand, Netflix is risking its reputation and its success by associating itself with my dismaying and upsetting books.”
Cindy Holland, Vice President of Netflix original content, replied, “Mr. Snicket’s participation will be limited, given his emotional distress, but the project has the full involvement of his legal, literary and social representative Daniel Handler, who is often mistaken for him.”
The first novel in the “Series of Unfortunate Events” was released in 1999 by Lemony Snicket (author Daniel Handler’s morose alias), and twelve more books were released in the next seven years, along with a feature film in 2004. The series follows the lives of the three orphaned Baudelaire children and their less-than-pleasant, albeit eventful, adventures while in custody of their “uncle,” Count Olaf, who often leads the children into dangerous and mysterious conundrums. The books have sold over 65 million total copies, and the movie, with Jim Carrey as Olaf, grossed over $200 million worldwide.
With such a devoted fan following, the Netflix series is expected to reach the same level of success as some of their other original endeavors – especially since this is Netflix’s first real venture into family-oriented original content.
The story is unfortunate, but the outlook is sunny. Netflix fans have a lot of horrible, terrible, distressing content to look forward to.