WATCH: ‘A Series of Unfortunate Events’ gets Netflix air date

On a Friday the 13th, Netflix will scare viewers with “Lemony Snicket’s A Series of Unfortunate Events” starring “How I Met Your Mother” actor Neil Patrick Harris.

The spooky series, which is based on Daniel Handler’s bestselling children’s classic, unfolds a grim tale about Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire, who lost their parents in an arson attack. The orphaned kids suspect that Count Olaf, played by Harris tore down their residence to claim their parents’ inheritance. During their quest to defeat and outsmart Olaf, the siblings discover bits and pieces of evidence that solve their parents’ murder.

In the minute-long trailer filmed at the series’ gloomy and empty set, Lemony Snicket, played by Patrick Warburton, tells the audience, whom he called “complete strangers,” what to expect from the series. “The story of the Baudelaire orphans is so upsetting and so utterly unnerving, and the cast and crew of the show are suffering from low morale, a word which here means, under medical observation for melancholia, ennui and acute wistfulness,” he uttered. After blurting out this line, Olaf is heard interrupting him, and Snicket frowns and warns the viewers again.

The Netflix series will comprise eight episodes. It will be executive-produced by Barry Sonnenfeld and Daniel Handler himself. Joining Warburton and Harris in the series are Joan Cusack (Justice Strauss), Malina Weissman (Violet Baudelaire), and Louis Hynes (Klaus Baudelaire).

Lemony Snicket and his crew will breathe life into the series on Jan. 13, 2017.  Gianna Francesca Catolico