Netflix has gained the rights to Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events books, and plans to adapt the novels into a TV series. The streaming giant, who has already had success with original programming, will produce the show with Paramount Television.
"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. We are proud to start work on a series for a global audience that already loves the books," Netflix vice president of original content Cindy Holland said in a press release. "The world created by Lemony Snicket is unique, darkly funny, and relatable. We can't wait to bring it to life for Netflix members."
The popular children's book series follows the adventures of the Baudelaire siblings Violet, Klaus and Sunny as they face off against the wicked Count Olaf. Written by Daniel Handler under the pen name Lemony Snicket, the series contains 13 books published from 1999 to 2006. Over 65 million copies of the books have been sold, and the series has been translated into 43 languages.
"I can't believe it. 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," Snicket said.
A movie based on the books starring Jim Carrey as Count Olaf was released in 2004, but a sequel was never made.
