We got the exclusive on the New York Premiere of Netflix’s Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events.”
The beloved children’s classic is finally binge-able! From books to theaters to Netflix, A Series of Unfortunate Events will soon be available online, on your phone and wherever you go. The reprisal stars Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf, Patrick Warburton as Lemony Snicket, Malina Weissman as Violet Baudelaire, Louis Hynes as Klaus Baudelaire, K. Todd Freeman as Mr. Arthur Poe and Presley Smith as Sunny Baudelaire. The cast gathered on the red carpet for the New York Premiere and gushed about making the series. Check out what author Dan Handler, as well as the cast had to say about the upcoming series:
Dan Handler – Author
Where did you get the inspiration for A Series of Unfortunate Events?
I think I just thought it would be interesting if terrible things happened over and over again the way I see them very often in life.
Did you initially think that concept would be a good idea for children’s series?
Well I didn’t, I thought it would be a terrible idea for a children’s books but a publisher disagreed with me and said ‘no, we think it’ll be a good idea.’ I remember thinking nothing on Earth is going to happen with these books, in fact it’s entirely possible I’ll get run out of town.
What was your reaction when Netflix approached you to do a series?
I assumed it was a prank call and they said ‘no we’ll make a whole tv show out of it’ and I kept waiting for them to say ‘never mind we didn’t really mean it,’ but I guess they meant it because here we all are.
What was the main difference between making the film versus the series?
Well I would say there was a certain luxury in getting to do it in such length and that with a movie the concern was we need to cram all this into a smaller thing and at Netflix is was almost the opposite and working with Barry Sonnenfeld – we have a real sense of camaraderie and can also yell at each other so that was pretty nice too.
What was your favorite episode from the series?
Well I have a cameo in one of them so I have to have a soft spot for that episode, but I can’t say which one.
Malina Weissmann – Violet Baudelaire
Did you read the books to prepare for your role?
I love the books I’ve read all of them.
Which one is your favorite?
The first one! Just because you get to know everybody and get to know all the characters and get to see the real aspect of the show.
What was your favorite scene to film?
I don’t wanna spoil anything, but probably the wedding scene.
What was the hardest scene to film?
Also the wedding scene because we filmed it over the course of three days and after a few days the dress started to get a little annoying, but it was my favorite scene.
What was it like working with such an amazing cast?
Incredible. Barry is an incredible director because he’s so dedicated to the show and he really knows what he wants and working with Neil I’ve learned so much.
Louis Hynes – Klaus Baudelaire
How did you prepare for the role of Klaus Baudelaire, in addition to reading the books?
Well I’m English and the roles is American so I had to spent quite a bit of time with a dialect coach and work on an American accent.
What was your favorite scene to film?
It was a scene with Neil Patrick Harris playing Count Olaf and Joan Cusack playing Justice Strauss, where Count Olaf is trying to persuade Justice Strauss to do an evil plot for him.
What is your favorite book from the series?
It’s gotta be the first one. I love the way it sets up the whole thing and brings together all the characters and starts everything off.
Usman Ally –Ferdinand Widdershins
Did you look to the books for inspiration at all?
I did! When I first knew I was working on the project I decided to look up – I was particularly interested in the art work just to get an idea of what the look of the world was like and I think we have some of that in the show we also have some newer ideas too.
What was your favorite scene to film?
So many. I worked a lot with Neil, but I really enjoyed the scenes with the baby because for some reason I could understand the things she’s saying, but no one else can so just that connection I have with her are some really great scenes.
