Neil Patrick Harris in Talks for A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS Netflix Series

BEST TIME EVER variety show host, star of Broadway's HEDWIG and HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER alum Neil Patrick Harris could soon be headed back to television, this time as the villain in the upcoming Netflix adaptation of Lemony Snicket's popular children's book collection A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS.

The Hollywood Reporter writes that Harris is in talks for the role of 'Count Olaf', who takes in "orphaned children Violet, Klaus and Sunny Baudelaire" with ulterior motives to steal "their family fortune."

Jim Carrey played the over-the-top part in the 2004 film adaptation, directed by Brad Silberling. Barry Sonnenfeld will helm the Netflix series. Daniel Handler (a.k.a author Lemony Snicket) is executive producing the project. Showrunner Mark Hudis has just departed the show; no word yet on a replacement.

Netflix originally announced a 13-episode, straight-to-series order for A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS in 2014.

Cindy Holland, VP of original content for Netflix, said that fall: "On the search for fantastic material that appeals to both parents and kids, the first stop for generations of readers is A SERIES OF UNFORTUNATE EVENTS. We are proud to start work on a series for a global audience that already loves the books. The world created by Lemony Snicket is unique, darkly funny, and relatable. We can't wait to bring it to life for Netflix members."

Harris's variety show BEST TIME EVER just ended its first (and sadly, last) season on NBC. The five-time Emmy- and Tony Award-winning performer was recently seen on the big screen starring opposite Ben Affleck and Rosamund Pike in David Fincher's critically-acclaimed feature film, GONE GIRL. He has garnered multiple Emmy and Golden Globe award nominations for his role as 'Barney Stinson' on the hit television series, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, and he won an Emmy for his guest-starring role on GLEE in 2010.

He recently starred in the title role of HEDWIG AND THE ANGRY INCH on Broadway, earning the 2014 Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. Harris served as host of the 67th Academy Awards, the 61st and 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, as well as the 63rd, 65th, 66th and 67th Tony Awards, for which he won four Emmys.

Most recently, Harris added the title of author to his list of accomplishments with the release of his autobiography from Crown Publishing, NEIL PATRICK HARRIS: CHOOSE YOUR OWN AUTOBIOGRAPHY.

Photo Credit: Walter McBride