Anya Taylor-Joy’s new Netflix show is based on an incredibly dark book.

After the successful response to The Queen’s Gambit, Anya Taylor-Joy will be making a comeback to Netflix in an enticingly sinister series inspired by Bella Mackie’s novel, How to Kill Your Family.

The protagonist in the book, played by Taylor-Joy, is the abandoned daughter of a heartless billionaire. When your own blood turns against you, there is only one option left: seek revenge.

Netflix’s upcoming thriller series, inspired by Mackie’s satirical novel, will be written and executive produced by Emma Moran. Author Mackie will also co-executive produce, which is typically a positive indication as the original creator’s involvement is highly valued.

The upcoming TV show is still in the process of being developed. Details about the cast and other information will be revealed in the near future, but the book has given us a clear idea of where the show is headed.

How to Kill Your Family Release Date

As of August 21, 2024, Netflix has announced the adaptation but there is currently no release date set. Production has not yet begun.

Anya Taylor-Joy in Netflix's How to Kill Your Family announcement.
Netflix

The major announcement was made immediately after the show secured its main actor. Due to this timing, the earliest premiere we can anticipate is 2025.

Cast

Anya Taylor-Joy has been announced as the lead in How to Kill Your Family, portraying the complex and verbose character of Grace. She is currently the only confirmed cast member, with additional actors expected to join the production as it nears filming.

Taylor-Joy had previously been recognized with a SAG Award and Golden Globe for her portrayal in The Queen’s Gambit. Her triumph on the streaming platform and her involvement as an executive producer for LadyKiller Productions in this adaptation clearly demonstrate her enthusiasm for returning to the project.

“According to EP Woodward Gentle, Anya is an incredible collaborator and the ideal choice to play Grace in the show. He describes her as sophisticated, multi-layered, hilariously dangerous, and intuitively desperate.”

What’s the plot?

How to Kill Your Family tells the story of Grace, a woman who is determined to seek revenge on her billionaire father and his side of the family for abandoning her and her mother in a cruel manner.

Simon Artemis, Grace’s father, admits to not remembering her mother, who was the product of an affair he had. Grace was the outcome of their extramarital relationship.

After the passing of her mother, Grace, who was raised without the support of a wealthy partner, is determined to seek retribution against Artemis and his family for their dismissal of her. Fueled by both her inheritance and intense anger, Grace sets out to eliminate Artemis and those like him.

Moran expressed to Netflix her belief that the character is ideal for a complicated, dark, yet amusing antihero, something every writer aspires to create. She is excited to take on the task of capturing the perfect mix of campy fun and raw violence that Bella executes flawlessly in the novel. Moran also stated that she has never had as much enjoyment on a project that involves such a large number of casualties.

How to Kill Your Family: Book Explained

The 2021 bestseller by Bella Mackie, also titled “The Netflix Series”, serves as the inspiration for the show.

The How to Kill Your Family book cover.
HarperCollins

The synopsis, written from Grace’s perspective, makes it clear why the book’s summary claims it is ideal for fans of Killing Eve.

Despite having killed several people (some brutally, others calmly), I am currently imprisoned for a murder I did not commit.

Reflecting on my actions, I can’t help but feel a tinge of sadness knowing that the intricate operation I carried out will always remain a secret. While getting away with it was my ultimate goal, I can’t help but wonder if one day, long after I’m gone, someone will stumble upon an old safe and uncover this admission.

The public would be shocked. It is difficult for most people to comprehend how a 28-year-old could have calmly murdered six of her family members and then continue on with her life without any remorse.

Perhaps the only regret is that she finds herself in prison for a murder she is innocent of, yet again. By the way, this is not a spoiler, it is just the premise.

Netflix stated that the adaptation drew inspiration from the book, so it may not be a completely faithful adaptation.

The author expressed excitement at seeing the characters they created come to life through the work of this exceptional creative team. They also spoke highly of their collaboration with Sid Gentle, stating that it has been a joyful experience. Furthermore, being introduced to Emma has given the author a strong sense of confidence in the safety of the book’s direction.

Despite possible alterations to facilitate the story’s transition from page to TV, the fundamental concepts and essence are expected to remain unchanged.

Are there any trailers?

As of now, there are no trailers for How to Kill Your Family. The production for the show has not yet started, so it will be a while before we get to see any.

If you have read the book and would like to see one of its chapters brought to life, we have discovered a showreel created by actress Sara Nelson, who enjoyed portraying scenes from Chapter 8.

How to watch

The only platform where you can stream How to Kill Your Family will be Netflix.

This is a Netflix Original, meaning it will only be available on the Netflix platform. Subscribers can enjoy the show at no additional cost. While it is unknown whether the episodes will be released all at once or weekly, if we look at other shows like Inventing Anna, it is likely that all episodes will be dropped at once.

How to Kill Your Family: Number of Episodes

The show was announced to consist of eight episodes and will be a limited series. This number was confirmed in the casting announcement.

This is a standard length for a mini-series. We anticipate that the episodes will have longer durations as well. The book consists of 354 pages and 18 chapters. Doing a quick calculation, each episode could potentially cover 2.25 chapters from the book.

Adapting for the screen is not always a straightforward process. The pacing and structure must be adjusted to fit the medium, which can vary and change throughout the adaptation.

To discover more TV shows that will be available for streaming in the near future, be sure to explore the top Netflix horror series perfect for Halloween, the highly anticipated upcoming anime series on Netflix, and the release date for Interview with the Vampire Season 2 on Netflix.

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