'A Series of Unfortunate Events' release date news, updates: Netflix's version darker than movie adaptation; Neil Patrick Harris excited to portray Count Olaf

Screenshot from "Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events" official trailer YouTube/Netflix

Netflix has taken the 13-book series under its wing and fans of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" are ready for the show to get grim. Meanwhile, Neil Patrick Harris is excited to be portraying Count Olaf.

Netflix has announced that they have adapted Lemony Snicket's book series titled "A Series of Unfortunate Events" and it is expected to be darker than the previous film adaptation. The network is known for its bleak themes on TV shows such as "Jessica Jones" and "Stranger Things," and it appears that Snicket's series will be no different.

In the trailer for Netflix's "A Series of Unfortunate Events," Snicket warns the viewers, "Look away before this dire tale is even filmed, and avoid the cruel whimsy and whimsical cruelty of what's to come."

Renowned comedian, producer, singer, and host Neil Patrick Harris has been tapped to play the big bad Count Olaf and he is excited for the role, especially because of the different personas that Olaf will have.

"What's fun about it is, being an actor, I get to play a new character in each book or in each two episodes of the show. "What's doubly fun about it is that I'm actually playing Olaf playing a character," Harris explained in an interview with ET.

He also admits that the role is mentally confusing, but Harris is positively overwhelmed in his challenging role for Netflix's "A Series of Unfortunate Events."

Meanwhile, Snicket was also excited that Netflix has taken his book series for a show adaptation. As reported by Deadline, the author of the book series, Daniel Handler — who uses the pen name Lemony Snicket — thinks that Netflix is taking a risk by taking on his "dismaying and upsetting books."

Netflix said in a statement that Handler will be fully involved in producing the "A Series of Unfortunate Events" TV series.

"A Series of Unfortunate Events" premieres on January 13, 2017 on Netflix.

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