Netflix plans Lemony Snicket TV series | CNN

First at the movies, now on TV —

If you think Hollywood's sequel fever can only be found at the movies, turn on your TV. Starz has announced that it's taking the classic horror franchise "The Evil Dead" and spinning it into a TV series that will see Bruce Campbell reprise his role of Ash Williams. This small screen project is just one of many that's been ripped from the movies.

New Line Cinema

<strong>"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events": </strong>In 2004, Lemony Snicket's dark but beloved children's title "A Series of Unfortunate Events" was adapted into a live-action movie starring Jim Carrey. Now, Snicket's story of a trio of kids who are hit by one "unfortunate event" after another is being turned into a TV series by Netflix.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Lemony Snicket's A Series of Unfortunate Events": In 2004, Lemony Snicket's dark but beloved children's title "A Series of Unfortunate Events" was adapted into a live-action movie starring Jim Carrey. Now, Snicket's story of a trio of kids who are hit by one "unfortunate event" after another is being turned into a TV series by Netflix.

Paramount Pictures

<strong>"Scream":</strong> Once upon a time, this Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven horror flick made teens everywhere terrified of a singular Ghostface mask. Since "Scream's" heyday in the '90s, the slasher movie is now being developed as a TV series for MTV.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Scream": Once upon a time, this Kevin Williamson and Wes Craven horror flick made teens everywhere terrified of a singular Ghostface mask. Since "Scream's" heyday in the '90s, the slasher movie is now being developed as a TV series for MTV.

Dimension Films

<strong>"Big": </strong>Fox has big plans for this 1988 comedy that starred Tom Hanks. The network <a href="http://variety.com/2014/tv/news/fox-buys-big-tv-show-remake-from-enlisted-team-1201317410/" target="_blank" target="_blank">has bought a half-hour comedy</a> inspired by the movie that will explore how the lines have blurred between what it means to be an adult and what it means to be a kid.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Big": Fox has big plans for this 1988 comedy that starred Tom Hanks. The network has bought a half-hour comedy inspired by the movie that will explore how the lines have blurred between what it means to be an adult and what it means to be a kid.

Twentieth Century Fox

<strong>"The Illusionist"</strong>: This 2006 romantic drama starred Jessica Biel and Ed Norton in a story that followed a magician using his talent to get a woman to fall in love with him. That kind of drama is right up the CW's alley, and <a href="http://deadline.com/2014/10/the-illusionist-tv-series-cw-851451/" target="_blank" target="_blank">the network is working on turning it into</a> a drama set in 20th-century New York.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"The Illusionist": This 2006 romantic drama starred Jessica Biel and Ed Norton in a story that followed a magician using his talent to get a woman to fall in love with him. That kind of drama is right up the CW's alley, and the network is working on turning it into a drama set in 20th-century New York.

Twentieth Century Fox

<strong>"Marley & Me"</strong>: Once upon a time, "Marley & Me" was just a book about a guy and his frustrating but beloved dog. Then it was turned into a 2008 movie with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. And now, <a href="http://insidetv.ew.com/2014/10/17/nbc-marley-me-tv-series/" target="_blank" target="_blank">over on NBC</a>, a sequel to that movie could become the network's newest comedy.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Marley & Me": Once upon a time, "Marley & Me" was just a book about a guy and his frustrating but beloved dog. Then it was turned into a 2008 movie with Jennifer Aniston and Owen Wilson. And now, over on NBC, a sequel to that movie could become the network's newest comedy.

Twentieth Century Fox

<strong>"Minority Report"</strong>: The sci-fi thriller "Minority Report" that you remember from 2002 starred Tom Cruise as a police officer whose unit arrests people before they commit crimes. <a href="http://www.theverge.com/2014/9/8/6122779/minority-report-tv-series-fox-pilot-order" target="_blank" target="_blank">But the TV series in the works</a> at Fox is being developed as a reboot with a female lead.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Minority Report": The sci-fi thriller "Minority Report" that you remember from 2002 starred Tom Cruise as a police officer whose unit arrests people before they commit crimes. But the TV series in the works at Fox is being developed as a reboot with a female lead.

Twentieth Century Fox

<strong>"Monster-in-Law"</strong>: Not to be confused with A&E's "Monster In-Laws," Fox is working on a sequel series to the 2005 Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez comedy "Monster-in-Law." In the follow-up, a couple would embark on parenthood while navigating the tricky relationship with the husband's mother.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Monster-in-Law": Not to be confused with A&E's "Monster In-Laws," Fox is working on a sequel series to the 2005 Jane Fonda and Jennifer Lopez comedy "Monster-in-Law." In the follow-up, a couple would embark on parenthood while navigating the tricky relationship with the husband's mother.

New Line Cinema

<strong>"Hitch"</strong>: Will Smith's 2005 romantic comedy with Kevin James is in steady rotation on cable TV, but that isn't stopping Fox from pursuing a TV series that would adopt the story into a workplace comedy.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Hitch": Will Smith's 2005 romantic comedy with Kevin James is in steady rotation on cable TV, but that isn't stopping Fox from pursuing a TV series that would adopt the story into a workplace comedy.

Columbia Pictures

<strong>"Problem Child"</strong>: John Ritter's 1990 classic, which co-starred Michael Oliver (and probably served as very effective birth control) might become a sitcom at NBC.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Problem Child": John Ritter's 1990 classic, which co-starred Michael Oliver (and probably served as very effective birth control) might become a sitcom at NBC.

Universal Pictures

<strong>"Real Genius"</strong>: We can't say how "genius" it is that NBC is trying to revive this beloved Val Kilmer comedy from 1985, but given the success of "The Big Bang Theory" and "Silicon Valley," we're not surprised that they're giving it a try. It would be re-envisioned as a modern-day workplace comedy.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Real Genius": We can't say how "genius" it is that NBC is trying to revive this beloved Val Kilmer comedy from 1985, but given the success of "The Big Bang Theory" and "Silicon Valley," we're not surprised that they're giving it a try. It would be re-envisioned as a modern-day workplace comedy.

Delphi III Productions

<strong>"Rush Hour"</strong>: Fox and NBC aren't the only networks hogging all the movie-to-TV adaptations: CBS is in on the game, too. The network has a pilot production commitment for an hourlong action-comedy adaptation of this 1998 hit that starred Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan as a pair of "odd couple" police officers.

First at the movies, now on TV —

"Rush Hour": Fox and NBC aren't the only networks hogging all the movie-to-TV adaptations: CBS is in on the game, too. The network has a pilot production commitment for an hourlong action-comedy adaptation of this 1998 hit that starred Chris Tucker and Jackie Chan as a pair of "odd couple" police officers.

New Line Cinema

First at the movies, now on TV

Story highlights

Netflix is adapting "A Series of Unfortunate Events" into a TV series

The show is based on books written by Daniel Handler, aka Lemony Snicket

Handler will be an executive producer of the TV series

CNN —

Lemony Snicket’s “A Series of Unfortunate Events” will now be told as a TV series.

According to reports, Netflix is developing a small-screen version of the popular children’s book series written by Daniel Handler, who crafted them under the pen name Lemony Snicket.

Handler’s stories followed a trio of siblings encountering one disaster after another, starting with the death of their parents in a fire.

The stories can be dark, but they’re also engaging and humorous – the kind of stuff that a family could enjoy together, said Netflix’s Cindy Holland, vice president of original content.

“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,’ ” Holland said in a statement to Deadline.

“The world created by Lemony Snicket is unique, darkly funny and relatable. We can’t wait to bring it to life for Netflix members.”

Snicket, speaking from an “undisclosed location,” told The Hollywood Reporter that he couldn’t believe the news. “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,” the “Unfortunate Events” narrator said.

Audiences have seen Snicket’s tales brought to life before with Paramount’s 2004 live-action movie starring Jim Carrey, Jude Law and Meryl Streep. Paramount Television is producing this original series with Netflix, along with author Handler as the executive producer.