Netflix may have found its Count Olaf. The streaming service is reportedly circling Neil Patrick Harris to take over the role that was first portrayed by Jim Carrey in the 2004 adaptation of Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Harris is said to be in negotiations to headline the straight-to-series 13 episode first season of A Series of Unfortunate Events, but his deal hasn’t closed yet. Another possible complication is that showrunner Mark Hudis (True Blood) has left A Series of Unfortunate Events, and a replacement showrunner will need to be found before the show can proceed.
Daniel Handler (a.k.a. Lemony Snicket) wrote the first novel in his 13 book A Series of Unfortunate Events in 1999 before bringing the series to a close in 2006. The novels followed the misadventures of orphaned Baudelaire siblings: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny. Count Olaf is their distant relative and initial caretaker who has plans to seize the Baudelaire fortune for himself. Olaf also frequently assumes disguises which only the Baudelaire siblings are able to see through.
If Harris signs on to the series, it would give Netflix an instantly recognizable TV star whose previous credits include How I Met Your Mother, Doogie Howser, M.D., Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, Starship Troopers, and Gone Girl.
Handler is attached to the new A Series of Unfortunate Events as an executive producer alongside Barry Sonnenfeld, who was previously signed to direct the feature film before leaving that project. Sonnenfeld is expected to direct the pilot episode of A Series of Unfortunate Events.
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Image Credit: NBC/ITV Studios America
