Is How to Kill Your Family based on a book? Explained

How to Kill Your Family is an upcoming Netflix series. As per an article published on Tudum on August 21, 2024, the synopsis of the series reads:

“Grace is the forgotten child of Simon Artemis, a merciless billionaire. After a heartbreaking rejection, Grace decides to exact revenge. But will this deadly scheme take even more from Grace than she’s already lost?”

Netflix has confirmed that Anya Taylor-Joy will play the protagonist of the series, Grace Bernard. The series will be written and executive produced by Emma Moran, known for creating and writing the 2023 Hulu comedy series Extraordinary.

How to Kill Your Family is based on Bella Mackie’s 2021 novel of the same title. Alhough no official release date for the series is available yet, Netflix has announced that it would have 8 episodes.

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How to Kill Your Family is based on Bella Mackie’s 2021 novel

Bella Mackie’s 2021 novel How to Kill Your Family was a bestseller. The book tells the dark-comedic story of Grace Bernard, the illegitimate child of Simon Artemis, a billionaire. Simon does not remember being in an affair with Grace’s mother, and leaves the two to fend for themselves.

Grace’s life becomes miserable when her mother dies. She seeks shelter and comfort from her father and his family. However, she is deemed an outsider and rejected by them. Angered and frustrated, Grace turns towards revenge.

How to Kill Your Family, in line with its titular subject, narrates how Grace takes to killing her extended family one by one in creative ways. She eyes a complete revenge, and a good inheritance that will expel her hardships. However, Grace is confronted by unforeseen matters, and she must improvise and adapt in order to survive.

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Anya Taylor-Joy and Bella Mackie have expressed their excitement over the project

Taylor-Joy’s performance in the 2020 Netflix miniseries The Queen's Gambit brought her critical acclaim and recognition. She is now preparing to ace the role of Grace in the upcoming screen adaptation of How to Kill Your Family. She told Tudum on August 21, 2024:

“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.”

She added:

“I am looking forward to getting our hands even dirtier.”

Bella Mackie, the author of the source material, is also eager about the upcoming project. Calling Taylor-Joy the “most perfect fit to play Grace”, she told Tudum:

“It’s been thrilling to watch the characters I wrote take on new life under this magnificent creative team.”

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How to Kill Your Family: Tentative cast and crew

Apart from the involvement of Anya Taylor-Joy, who will play the lead role in the series, no other cast members’ names have been officially revealed yet.

Emma Moran, the writer of the series, will also act as an executive producer. Other executive producers include Sally Woodward Gentle, Lizzie Rusbridger, Lee Morris, and Taylor-Joy. Author Bella Mackie is also involved in the adaptation as a co-executive producer.

Woodward Gentle is happy with the team that has been created for the series. Gentle told Tudum:

“Emma Moran is a magical talent with a unique voice. The excitement is already palpable in the writers’ room as Anya, Lizzie, and the team explore Bella’s rip-roaring, take-no-prisoners, satirically pitch-black novel.”

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Stay tuned for more updates on Netflix's How to Kill Your Family.