"A Series of Unfortunate Events" will feature an "awful" Olaf, according to Neil Patrick Harris. The actor, who plays the character in the upcoming Netflix family series that will launch on Jan. 13, 2017, recently shared this tidbit while gracing a 92Y event in New York.
Neil Patrick Harris was with husband David Burtka during the event and Burtka confirms he has already seen two episodes of "A Series of Unfortunate Event." He gives the show a great review, citing the remarkable work ASOUE director Barry Sonnenfeld and his husband has done in the series.
"[I'm] getting chills just thinking about it," David Burtka told the 92Y audience about having watched some episodes of "A Series of Unfortunate Events." In the same panel, Neil Patrick Harris shared his excitement for playing Count Olaf on ASOUE.
"He's awful," Neil Patrick said about his character, via 92Y. "He slaps Klaus, the younger boy, across the face," he said, citing that he wanted to validate the character as a villain so that being mean was essential. "I didn't want to make it a kids' series for kids, and in doing so, disrespect the kids," the actor added.
The actor also dished that he has not played an older villain before and it's such a process to prepare for his role. Every episode of "A Series of Unfortunate Events," apart from the first, will feature Olaf in disguise and voice changes, which definitely challenges the actors' skills. Watch the couple talk about ASOUE in the video below.
Netflix announced the development of "A Series of Unfortunate Events" in partnership with Paramount Television in 2014, as reported by Deadline. By spring 2016, production started in Canada for the show's eight episode for Season 1 and work went on for at least five months. In early October, Netflix released the first teaser to "A Series of Unfortunate Events," and announced the January 2017 air date, per The Verge.
Apart from Neil Patrick Harris, the show is also going to feature an ensemble of actors. Patrick Warburton will headline as Lemony Snicket while Malina Weissman and Louis Hynes will play the Baudelaire kids. Keep checking back to this site for more about "A Series of Unfortunate Events."
