Netflix is brewing a wickedly sharp dark comedy with How to Kill Your Family, an upcoming series adaptation of Bella Mackie’s 2021 bestselling novel. Leading the charge is Anya Taylor-Joy, returning triumphantly to the streamer that launched her to global stardom with The Queen’s Gambit. Taylor-Joy embodies Grace Bernard, a cunning and unhinged anti-heroine whose journey from heartbreak to calculated chaos promises to deliver twists, laughs, and unapologetic darkness.
The story centers on Grace, the illegitimate daughter of ruthless billionaire Simon Artemis. Abandoned by her wealthy father, Grace grows up in hardship alongside her devoted mother. When her mother dies from illness—after Simon coldly rejects pleas for help—Grace’s grief morphs into a burning quest for revenge. She methodically targets her estranged family members one by one, employing ingeniously morbid and often absurdly humorous tactics to eliminate them, saving her father for last. Narrated with biting wit and satirical edge, Grace’s confessions reveal a woman who’s sophisticated, ruthless, and hilariously detached from conventional morality.
What makes Grace one of Netflix’s most compelling chaotic anti-heroines? She’s not a mindless villain; her vengeance is fueled by deep betrayal, class resentment, and a sharp intellect that skewers the elite. The novel’s black humor shines in her elaborate schemes—poisonings, accidents, and deceptions executed with flair—while exploring themes of inheritance, rejection, and the absurdity of privilege. Taylor-Joy, known for her mesmerizing intensity in roles like The Menu and Furiosa, is pitch-perfect casting. Author Bella Mackie herself has praised her as understanding Grace “better than I do,” highlighting the actress’s ability to blend charm, menace, and vulnerability.
Produced by Sid Gentle Films—the powerhouse behind Killing Eve—the eight-episode series brings that same femme-fatale energy. Lead writer and executive producer Emma Moran (Extraordinary) strikes a balance between campy fun and brutal violence, amplifying the book’s satirical bite on British high society. Taylor-Joy also serves as executive producer through her LadyKiller Productions, ensuring a hands-on approach to this passion project. She admitted to “light stalking” Mackie after devouring the novel, eager to dive into its rip-roaring narrative.
Announced in 2024, the project overcame a brief legal hurdle earlier this year—a settled copyright dispute—but production is moving forward with anticipation building. No release date has been set yet, but with its blend of mordant humor and thriller elements, it’s poised to become a binge-worthy obsession, much like Killing Eve or The White Lotus.
In a streaming landscape craving bold female leads, Grace Bernard stands out: unrepentant, clever, and delightfully deranged. As Netflix teases “twists and darker crimes,” viewers can expect a scathing takedown of family dynamics wrapped in laugh-out-loud depravity. Anya Taylor-Joy is back, and she’s deadlier—and funnier—than ever.
