Warning: this article contains slight spoilers for Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events. Read at your own risk.
On Friday, Netflix released the first season of A Series of Unfortunate Events, which chronicles the misfortunes of the Baudelaire children, Violet, Klaus and Sunny, after the untimely deaths (or so it seemed) of their parents. Entertainment Weekly caught up with Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket, the author of the original books, to talk about the Netflix adapation.
Handler has had a blast working on the show, saying “It’s been really fun. Challenging, too, but fun. Netflix put together a bunch of people who were really enthusiastic, and I think that’s made all the difference. It’s really nice to be in a room with people who are all excited about what they’re doing and who want to bring something specifically to life and don’t need to be sold on it.”
Handler said that originally he’d been approached by TV networks before, but had wanted the series to have a brighter outlook instead of the grim outlook that’s a theme throughout the books.
He also said that, this time around, Netflix was the one who approached him for a meeting about the books. He said he was a little wary about it but also said that “Piper Kerman, who wrote the book Orange Is the New Black, is a friend of mine, and she said she had a good experience with them.”
He also said they’re currently working on the second season and are awaiting word on the third season. The second season will focus on books five through nine and the third season, should it be commissioned, would focus on books 10 through 13.
Of course, Handler was also asked about the 2004 film that focused on the first three books of the series, The Bad Beginning, The Reptile Room and The Wide Window. Handler said he’s unsure why there weren’t more movies that were made, especially given how well the film did at the box office, but would get called in for meetings and would talk about the future of the movies. He said he’d write a script and then would come back and they’d be back at square one.
As for the overeall mystery of the show, Handler said “that the destination is the same, but the route is different,” which could hint at one major difference of the books and the Netflix adaptation in which the Baudelaire parents (Will Arnett and Cobie Smulders) are alive.
A Series of Unfortunate Events season one is currently streaming on Netflix. The show has already been renewed for a second season.