13 references only Lemony Snicket fans will get in the first trailer for Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events
Count Olaf's back in the new adaptation of the bestselling novels - and there's plenty for eagle-eyed book readers to spot
A trailer for upcoming Netflix TV adaptation A Series of Unfortunate Events is here – and while it's possible it was only created by a fan it’s both super-creepy and stuffed with references to the bestselling series of novels it’s based on.
Written by Daniel Handler under the pseudonym of Lemony Snicket (who is also a peripheral character in the plot), the books tell the story of orphaned children Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire, who are forced to move in with a nasty relative called Count Olaf after their parents' death.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xer4VCa5-tg
Upon finding out that he wants to steal their fortune the children escape, moving from one hapless or no-good guardian to another. Meanwhile, Olaf is snapping at their heels, donning a series of disguises, murdering and causing chaos in his pursuit of the Baudelaires.
As time goes on, though, it becomes clear that nothing is as it seems, with a mysterious conspiracy known by the initials VFD seeming to affect every aspect of Violet, Klaus and Sunny’s lives – and their safety could depend on figuring out exactly what those letters stand for.
The dark and fitfully comic story was spread out over 13 novels that appeared over the course of seven years, sold over 60 million copies and were translated into 41 languages. In 2004 the first three books were even adapted into a movie starring Jim Carrey, Billy Connelly and Jude Law, but the film was poorly received and the Netflix series is seen as a complete reboot for the property, with Handler much more involved.
With that in mind, the trailer seems to imply a much greater adherence to the books, and is stuffed full of references to the complicated world of the Baudelaires. But how many were you able to spot? We clocked an unlucky number 13...
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Authors
Huw Fullerton is a Commissioning Editor for Radio Times magazine, covering Entertainment, Comedy and Specialist Drama.
