David Farnor | On 15, Mar 2017

“The rules here are pretty simple. Rule number one: You listen. Number two: You pass it on.”

That’s Hannah Baker in 13 Reasons Why – or, more specifically, Hannah Baker reading out the 13 reasons why her life ended.

Intrigued? Now you know how Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) feels, when he returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside, he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah — his classmate and crush — who tragically committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains her life story and, as you does, names all the people who received a box. Will Clay be one of them?

Netflix’s new original series, based on best-selling book by Jay Asher, is released on Friday 31st March – and, while we’ve already had a full trailer (see below) for the series, there’s no better way to illustrate the show’s simple, gripping premise than this clever new video:

 

Full trailer released for 13 Reasons Why

2nd March 2017

Why would a dead girl lie? That’s the question that Netflix will answer this March, as 13 Reasons Why finally arrives.

Based on the best-selling books by Jay Asher, the series follows Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette) as he returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside, he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker — his classmate and crush — who tragically committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Will Clay be one of them?

13 Reasons Why comes from executive producers Tom McCarthy, Brian Yorkey, Selena Gomez, Joy Gorman and Kristel Laiblin. McCarthy, who recently helmed the Oscar-winning Spotlight, is also on directing duties.

The whole series premieres on 31st March. Here’s a full trailer – or read on for a panel from the show’s makers discussing the adaptation of the young adult best-seller.

 

13 Reasons Why: Netflix series won’t shy away from the book’s darkness

12th February 2017

This March, Netflix brings a new series based on 13 Reasons Why to the screen.

The book follows teenager Clay Jensen (newcomer Dylan Minnette) as he returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside, he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker (newcomer Katherine Langford), his classmate and crush, who tragically committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are 13 reasons why she decided to end her life. Will Clay be one of them? If he listens, he’ll find out how he made the list.

The novel may sound like a dark read, but that heart-wrenching core of the book is exactly what the makers of Netflix’s series wanted to capture.

Speaking at a panel during a Netflix press event in New York this week, Creator Brian Yorkey, Executive Producers Selena Gomez and Mandy Teefey, Consulting Producer Jay Asher, Director Tom McCarthy and Minnette and Langford spoke about the importance of the text.

“This book is not only an incredible read, it’s a lifeline that tells you that you are not alone,” said Yorkey. “The responsibility we all felt was how can we be as true as possible to this book?”

“We didn’t want it to come out as a PSA,” added Teefey. “I think the parents are going to have the hardest time watching, because they don’t want to see their kids being the bully or being Hannah.”

One of the show’s highest profile names behind the scenes is Selena Gomez, who brought the book to Anonymous Content with Teefey, her mother. She was originally going to star in a film based on the novel, until the project became a TV series, with Minette and Langford taking the starring roles.

“I was going through a really difficult time when they started production,” said Gomez. “I went away for 90 days and talked with a lot of kids. It definitely hit home, a very important part of me. Kids have to see something that’s frightening, I want them to understand I definitely relate to everything. I was a mess.”

“I’ve had these conversations with my fans,” she added. “They tell me these things. I can’t stand social media, I can’t stand what they think is reality.”

You can see the full panel here:

All episodes of 13 Reason Why premiere on Netflix on Friday 31st March.

 

Selena Gomez’s 13 Reasons Why to premiere on Netflix this March

26th January 2017

Selena Gomez’s 13 Reasons Why will premiere on Netflix this March.

Based on the best-selling books by Jay Asher, the series, which is exec-produced by Gomez, follows teenager Clay Jensen (newcomer Dylan Minnette) as he returns home from school to find a mysterious box with his name on it lying on his porch. Inside, he discovers cassette tapes recorded by Hannah Baker (newcomer Katherine Langford) — his classmate and crush — who tragically committed suicide two weeks earlier. On tape, Hannah explains that there are thirteen reasons why she decided to end her life. Will Clay be one of them? If he listens, he’ll find out how she made the list.

Netflix promises an “intricate and heart wrenching story of teenage life that will deeply affect teen viewers” – and with Spotlight director Tom McCarthy at the helm, you can expect the show to deliver on that promise.

All 13 episodes launch globally on Netflix UK on Friday 31st March 2017.

 

Spotlight’s Brian d’Arcy James joins Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why

16th June 2016

Spotlight star Brian d’Arcy James has joined Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why.

The actor, who was most recently seen playing one of the Boston Globe’s journalists investigating child abuse within the Catholic Church, evidently impressed director Tom McCarthy with his work alongside Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams and Michael Keaton: McCarthy has promptly reunited with him for Netflix’s new series.

The 13-episode drama, from producer Selena Gomez and writer Brian Yorkey, explores what happens in the wake of a student – Hannah – committing suicide. Earlier this week, Kate Walsh was cast as Hannah’s mother. d’Arcy James will play her father, a small business owner who immerses himself in his work to cope with her death.

Kate Walsh joins Netflix’s 13 Reasons Why

11th June

Kate Walsh has joined the cast of Selena Gomez’s series 13 Reasons Why.

The project, exec-produced by the singer, is a Netflix original series based on the New York Times bestselling young adult novel by Jay Asher.

The novel was adapted by Pulitzer and Tony-winning playwright Brian Yorkey and tells the story of Hannah Baker, a student who has committed suicide. The show follows Clay, a boy who receives a shoebox of cassette tapes from Hannah, on whom he had a crush. The tapes contain instructions to pass them from one student to another, explaining to friends the role they played in her death.

The show was first announced last year (see our original report below), but filming on the production is now underway, following the addition of final cast members. Grey’s Anatomy veteran Walsh will play Hannah’s mum and will star alongside Empire’s Derek Luke as Hannah’s guidance counsellor, Mr. Porter. Dylan Minnette has also been cast as Clay, with Katherine Langford set to play Hannah.

The 13-episode series is produced by Paramount TV and Anonymous Content, with Joy Gorman, Michael Sugar and Steve Golin on board for the latter, alongside Mandy Teefey and Kristel Laiblin

The series began shooting this week, with Spotlight director Tom McCarthy behind the camera to helm the first two episodes.

Selena Gomez to exec produce Netflix series based on 13 Reasons Why

30th October 2015

Selena Gomez is set to exec produce a new series for Netflix. The show, which will span 13 episodes, is based on the young adult novel 13 Reasons Why by Jay Asher. Gomez and her mother, Manda Teefey, brought the book to Anonymous Content a while back with producer Kristel Laiblin hoping to adapt it for the screen.

The project was reportedly in development at Universal as a movie. Now, though, Variety has exclusively revealed that final talks are ongoing with Netflix.

While Gomez is the name catching headlines, though, she has served as an Executive Producer before now – on Disney’s Wizards of Waverly Place TV movie, based on the series that starred in for four seasons. The singer is no stranger to the big screen either, starring in both Spring Breakers and Monte Carlo, and is set to appear in Neighbours 2, the sequel to Zac Efron and Seth Rogen’s 2014 comedy.

This new venture, though, marks a higher profile role and a more serious change of subject. The novel, which explores teen suicide and bullying, has inspired its own online community where readers and discuss the important issue and has been on the New York Times bestseller for eight years since its publication in 2007.

The novel will be adapted by Pulitzer and Tony-winning playwright Brian Yorkey and tells the story of Hannah Baker, a student who has committed suicide. The show will follow Clay, a boy who receives a shoebox of cassette tapes from Hannah, on whom he had a crush. The tapes contain instructions to pass them from one student to another, explaining to friends the role they played in her death.

Netflix has not officially announced the project, but Variety notes that negotiations have been taking place for over a year, so a final deal appears to be in sight.

Add to Watchlist