Who Made this Unfortunately Brilliant Teaser Trailer for A Series of Unfortunate Events?

When the teaser trailer for the A Series Of Unfortunate Events was quietly posted online a couple of days ago by one Eleanora Poe, it was love at first sight. At first. But charm soon turned to alarm.

Miss Poe had done so much right, nailed so many details, matched just the right Snickety tone in the teaser for the upcoming Netflix series. Miss Poe, Lemony Snicket devotees may recall, is the sister of the banker Arthur Poe, the manager of the Quagmire fortune and the Baudelaire orphans' estate. And quite the perfect pick to make the trailer. According to Empire Online, Miss Poe also nailed the music— a version of the Dresden Dolls' Missed Me plays throughout,while the record on the gramophone is by Stephin Merritt's Snicket-influenced The Gothic Archies—as well as building in plenty of 'visual gags' and references 'to ensnare the Snicket faithful, including a shadowing glimpse of the dastardly Count Olaf himself.'

How dismally delicious, as an old Lemony Snicket diehard fan might say. But then, suspiciously, I might add, Netflix announces they didn't make the trailer. Nor did they give Eleanora—or anyone els, for that matter—permission to make and release the trailer and get the promotional ball rolling. They say it's a fake. They don't mention it, but I happen to know Eleanora Poe is a fake too, a fake person AKA a character created by Lemony Snicket's alter ego, author Daniel Handler. 

Handler won't say it, but I will. As a fake, as a literary character, Eleanora Poe can't make trailers for television series. And she certainly can't post them on YouTube. She lacks the opposable thumbs. Not that you actually need opposable thumbs to post videos on YouTube, but you get the picture. Poe is faux. Not real. 

Oh no! A fake trailer? Does that mean Netflix is NOT making a series based on A Series of Unfortunate Events?

Fake trailer or not, Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events is still a go. As Netflix’s Cindy Holland said last year. “The world created by Lemony Snicket is unique, darkly funny, and relatable. We can’t wait to bring it to life for Netflix members.” 

Snicket—author Daniel Handler in disguise – isn’t so sure. “I can’t believe it. After years of providing top-quality entertainment on demand, Netflix is risking its reputation and its success by associating itself with my dismaying and upsetting books.”

Lemony Snicket's Series of Unfortunate Events is supposed to hit Netflix in 2016; for now the venture is clouded in mystery. No filmmaker or casting details. No production leaks. Nothing. Just this intriguing little snippet of a teaser trailer made by some adoring fan. 

The real mystery is, if Netflix really isn't behind this trailer, who is? Step forward, super-talented-super-nerd fan and identify yourself. The world wants to celebrate you, before we tear you to pieces.