The Wasteland’s loss is Netflix’s gain. Yes, Furiosa herself, the Golden Globe-winning Anya Taylor-Joy has been cast in the lead role for the upcoming Netflix series based on the bestselling book, How to Kill Your Family. Bella Mackie’s 2021 novel is being adapted into an eight-part show for the streaming service, and the author thinks that Taylor-Joy “is the most perfect fit to play Grace. I often think she understands her better than I do.” And for Taylor-Joy, the actress knew she had to be a part of the adaptation, which brings protagonist Grace Bernard to the small screen. Taylor-Joy said in an interview (per Tudum):
“As soon as I turned the last page, I knew I had to be a part of bringing this story to life.
After some (light) stalking of the inimitable Bella Mackie,
I could not be more thrilled to be collaborating with the team
that is executive producers Sally Woodward Gentle, Lizzie Rusbridger, and Emma.
I am looking forward to getting our hands even dirtier.”
Executive Producer Emma Moran is helming the How to Kill Your Family ship for Netflix, and also adapting Mackie’s written work for the streaming series. And not unlike Taylor-Joy, Moran’s “immediate kinship” with the book’s main character, Grace Bernard, led to the Extraordinary and Have I Got News for You talent taking on the dark and comedic story. Moran said via the same source (below):
“She’s [Grace] the kind of complicated, dark, but utterly hilarious antihero you dream of writing.
Striking that balance between camp fun and brutal violence that Bella hits so perfectly
in the book is a challenge I’m so looking forward to.
I’ve never had more fun on a project with such a high body count.”
Anya Taylor-Joy Will Learn How to Kill Grace’s Family
Grace Bernard isn’t an exact copy, obviously, but the dark and complicated character in How to Kill Your Family is akin to one of Anya Taylor-Joy’s best roles. In the comedic thriller Thoroughbreds, the actress starred alongside Olivia Cooke as a pair of young girls plotting to kill Lily’s (Taylor-Joy) stepfather (Paul Sparks). So, Taylor-Joy is perfectly cast to portray author Bella Mackie’s complicated and murderous “heroine.”
The brainchild behind How to Kill Your Family, which has sold 1.2 million copies, was at one time a journalist before turning to the world of fiction as a best-selling weaver of words. She worked for both The Guardian and Vice News, plus Mackie continues contributing stories to British Vogue. And she’s understandably elated to see her dark and humorous novel brought to life. Mackie said via the same source:
“It’s been thrilling to watch the characters I wrote take on new life under this magnificent creative team.
Pairing up with
Sid Gentle [Film Ltd.]
has been joyful,
and introducing me to Emma [Moran] has made me supremely confident the book is in safe hands.”
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Will How to Kill Your Family become one of Netflix’s must-sees? That remains to be seen, but casting Taylor-Joy indicates that the creative team is on the right path. At the time of this writing, there isn’t a release date scheduled for the small-screen adaptation of Mackie’s book. And outside Taylor-Joy, the other characters have not been cast yet.