Barry Sonnenfeld to direct Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events

Last winter Netflix announced that they would be rebooting LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS for the small screen but, aside from an extremely well-made fan teaser for the series, not a heck of a lot of information has emerged, until now. Variety reports that Netflix has hired a director for the series, and it's someone who already has an association with the property.

Barry Sonnenfeld (MEN IN BLACK) has been hired by Netflix to direct A Series of Unfortunate Events, but this isn't the first time that the director has been close to the franchise; Sonnenfeld was originally hired by Paramount to direct the feature film back in 2002, but a series of budgetary restrictions led to Sonnenfeld departing the film and Paramount hiring a new director (Brad Silberling). Whether Barry Sonnenfeld will direct the entirety of the series or merely get the first episode or two going wasn't specified, but Netflix has also hired Mark Hudis (True Blood) as show-runner. Hudis, along with Sonnenfeld and Lemony Snicket himself (Daniel Handler), will also serve as executive producers. Despite this new development, there is still no word on when the series might get underway.

"A Series of Unfortunate Events", which has spawned thirteen novels and a feature film adaptation, chronicles the tale of three orphaned children named Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire as they seek to uncover the secret of their parents' death all while battling their evil uncle Olaf as he attempts to lay his hands on their fortune. 2004's LEMONY SNICKET'S A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS starred Jim Carrey as Count Olaf but wasn't deemed profitable enough to continue the franchise.