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How to Kill Your Family: plot, Where to Watch, & more About the Anya Taylor-Joy Series

Written by Isha Das
Published on August 26, 2024
Anya Taylor-Joy in Queen's Gambit (Credit: Netflix)

Anya Taylor-Joy is stepping into the role of Grace Bernard in Netflix's upcoming adaptation of Bella Mackie’s best-selling novel, How to Kill Your Family. Known for her powerhouse performances in The Queen’s Gambit, Furiosa: A Mad Max Saga, and The Menu, Taylor-Joy is set to bring her unique flair to this darkly satirical series.

How to Kill Your Family follows Grace, the illegitimate daughter of a ruthless billionaire, as she embarks on a twisted mission of revenge against the family that wronged her. With her mother's tragic death and her father's rejection fueling her rage, Grace’s journey promises to be as captivating as it is deadly. 

In the latest news, Anya Taylor-Joy has been officially confirmed as the lead, making this series even more highly anticipated. With Emma Moran, the creator of Extraordinary, writing, and executive producing, How to Kill Your Family is shaping up to be a must-watch for fans of dark humor and sharp storytelling.

Stay tuned as we keep you updated with all the latest developments on this gripping new series, from plot details to casting announcements and more. This is one show you won't want to miss!

Release date & Where to Watch

Netflix has yet to announce a release date for the eight-part series, so stay tuned for updates.

Plot

How to Kill Your Family is a drama that centers on Grace Bernard, a woman with a deeply troubled family history. Grace is the illegitimate daughter of Simon Artemis, a billionaire and ruthless social climber who denies her existence. Abandoned and left to fend for herself after her mother’s death, Grace channels her anger into a calculated mission of revenge. Determined to eliminate her estranged extended family, she employs morbidly creative methods to exact her vengeance and secure a hefty inheritance.

However, as Grace's deadly plans unfold, she finds herself increasingly distant from what she truly desires. The series, based on Bella Mackie's best-selling novel, promises a gripping blend of dark humor and brutal violence. The novel itself is written in the style of a confession, where Grace’s quest for revenge begins after her father refuses her dying mother's final wish, leading her to murder six members of her family.

Writer Moran, who felt an “immediate kinship” with the fascinating protagonist, aims to capture the balance between camp fun and the brutal violence that defines Mackie’s book. Anya Taylor-Joy, who portrays Grace, expressed her excitement about bringing this story to life, while Mackie praised Taylor-Joy as the perfect fit for the role.

Cast

So far, Anya Taylor-Joy is the only confirmed cast member for the Netflix series How to Kill Your Family. Known for her award-winning performance as Beth Harmon in The Queen’s Gambit, Taylor-Joy will play Grace Bernard, a character with a complex and dark family history. 

Taylor-Joy expressed her enthusiasm for the project, saying, “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 Sally, Lizzie, and Emma. I am looking forward to getting our hands even dirtier.”

Author Bella Mackie also shared her excitement, stating, "It’s been thrilling to watch the characters I wrote take on new life under this magnificent creative team. Anya is the most perfect fit to play Grace: I often think she understands her better than I do. Pairing up with Sid Gentle has been joyful, and introducing me to Emma has made me supremely confident the book is in safe hands."

Keep checking back for updates on additional cast members and more information.

Trailer

A trailer has yet to be released, but we'll update this page as soon as it is.

Is How to Kill Your Family Based on a book? 

Yes, the Netflix series How to Kill Your Family is based on Bella Mackie's best-selling 2021 novel of the same name. Since its release, the novel has sold over 1.2 million copies. Bella Mackie expressed her excitement for the adaptation, praising the creative team and describing Anya as the perfect fit to portray the lead character, Grace. 

When was How To Kill Your Family Announced?

At the 2024 Edinburgh TV Festival on Aug. 21, 2024, Netflix announced that an eight-part series is in development. This project is a collaboration between Netflix and Sid Gentle Films Ltd, the creators of Killing Eve, with Emma Moran set as the lead writer.

Behind the Scenes

Mackie serves as co-executive producer on the eight-episode series How to Kill Your Family, the first Netflix project from Sid Gentle Films Ltd., the company behind the Emmy-winning Killing Eve. The series is led by writer and executive producer Emma Moran, known for her work on Extraordinary. Anya Taylor-Joy is also an executive producer through her LadyKiller Productions Inc.

The series brings together a strong creative team, including Sally Woodward Gentle, Lizzie Rusbridger, and Lee Morris as executive producers for Sid Gentle Films. Bella Mackie, author of the original novel, ensures the adaptation remains faithful to her story by taking on the role of co-executive producer. This collaboration marks a significant partnership between Netflix and Sid Gentle Films Ltd.



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