'A Series of Unfortunate Events' release date, news and updates: New trailer showcases costumes of Neil Patrick Harris as Count Olaf

Netflix is adapting the best-selling children's novels "A Series of Unfortunate Events" into a TV show. A full trailer has come out with Neil Patrick Harris starring as the wacky villain, Count Olaf.

The trailer comes with a letter from Netflix supposedly warning the viewer not to watch the trailer — in true vein of the original books. The letter goes: "Dear Viewer, We regretfully present you with the official trailer, a word which here means a collection of the unhappy happenings surrounding the lives of the three Baudelaire orphans and one despicable Count Olaf.

"For the sake of your mental well-being and overall enjoyment of your internet browsing experience, we recommend you search "cats playing instruments" immediately and spend the next 2 1/2 minutes watching a tabby in a t-shirt attempt to play a keyboard instead. With all due respect, Netflix"

Fans of the original books can remember that the author frequently writes warnings that readers will not seek any gratification from the books since these always end in tragedy. The negativity and cynicism that Lemony Snicket brought to the series has become a trademark of the "Unfortunate Events" franchise.

As for the trailer itself, it features a handful of Count Olaf's wacky disguises. According to reports, these costumes are ripped straight from the books. Characters like Stefano, Capt. Sham and Shirley were all characters in Olaf's playbook as he tried to scam the Baudelaire Orphans' fortune away for himself.

"A Series of Unfortunate Events" follows the story of Baudelaire orphans Violet (Malina Weissman), Klaus (Louis Hynes) and Sunny as they move from different homes, all while being pursued by Count Olaf. In every story, Count Olaf shows up with a different disguise and manages to fool all the adults while the orphans try their best to convince them otherwise. Like the title suggests, the children are always on their way to misfortune.

"Lemony Snicket's a Series of Unfortunate Events" is set to come out on Netflix on Jan. 13, 2017.