Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire are coming to Netflix, and now we know who will be overseeing the trials and tribulations of the luckless orphans. Per Variety, the online streaming giant has recruited Barry Sonnenfeld and Mark Hudis for A Series of Unfortunate Events, who join the project as director and showrunner, respectively.
Both will executive produce alongside Lemony Snicket creator, Daniel Handler. The recruitment of Sonnenfeld in particular marks an unofficial reunion of sorts, given that the filmmaker was once considered to direct the 2004 big-screen adaptation, before he was ultimately replaced by Brad Silberling. Still no word on shooting or recruitment on the other side of the camera, though today’s report is the biggest news regarding Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events in some time.
Nonetheless, fans of Sonnenfeld’s work will consider his recruitment as a major coup for the Baudelaires’ small-screen outing. Not only has the director balanced the weird and the comedic through Men in Black, but he’s also shown a penchant for experimentation within the likes of Pushing Daises, blending narration with split-screen editing remarkably well. Here’s hoping that Sonnenfeld can carry some of that style over to Netflix’s latest series.
Since its inception in 1999, the Lemony Snicket series has gone on to sell a staggering 65 million copies worldwide. Netflix may have a firm production start date to set in stone, but the online giant hinted at the series’ innate potential when it picked up the rights late last year, hoping to create a property that appeals to adults and children alike. Indeed, Daniel Handler’s original franchise all but nails that balancing act with its rich storytelling and dire, yet charming tone.
All we need now is news of casting for A Series of Unfortunate Events and we can all once again live in fear of the delightfully evil Count Olaf.
