The Mysterious Benedict Society is a new TV show, premiering June 25th on Disney+. Based on the young adult book series by Trenton Lee Stewart, it is about four gifted orphans who are recruited by the peculiar Mr. Benedict for a dangerous mission to save the world from a global crisis. People with very special abilities joining forces to save the world? Sounds like our kind of show!
We were also very excited that four members of the Shadowhunters writers’ room reassembled to work on the show — Todd Slavkin (showrunner), Darren Swimmer (showrunner), Taylor Mallory (writer/Story Editor), and Claire Hupy (writers’ assistant). Despite the shorter season length (only 8 episodes, compared to Shadowhunters’ 20) and the lack of dogs in the office (the building didn’t allow it) it sounds like there was some major nostalgia to their new writers’ room.
Taylor Mallory took some time to discuss this epic writing reunion with us. Read on to hear about the difficulties of having to avoid pop culture references on a show like Benedict, what flavor of La Croix is the best, and the benefits and challenges of adapting a book to series.
First of all, it’s always a pleasure to chat with you! We love keeping up with all of the new projects coming from the Shadowhunters team. Did it feel like you were getting the band back together?
It totally did! I knew I wanted to work with Todd [Slavkin] and Darren [Swimmer] again, but I didn’t expect it to happen so soon after Shadowhunters. I could not have been happier to see Todd, Darren, and Claire [Hupy] at work again. Felt like coming home.
How did this experience differ from working on Shadowhunters?
I hadn’t read The Mysterious Benedict Society before, so I didn’t have the same inherent nostalgia that made me a ‘book expert’ in the Shadowhunters room. But I quickly devoured the series for my job interview and fell in love. The Benedict books are so clever. They have a ton of heart and such a specific style. In the room, we decided early on that our series would feel something like Wes Anderson meets Lemony Snicket. Definitely a tonal departure from Shadowhunters.
But every room is unique, you know? Todd, Darren, and Claire were familiar voices, but I got to know nine new ones. Creators Matt Manfedi and Phil Hay came in with a deep connection to the books and a clear vision for the series. They’re also two of the friendlist guys ever. My fellow writers Chelsea Lora and James Rodgers III were so witty and fun to work with. James has a deep and abiding love of puzzles and riddles, which seriously came in handy for this show. And along with Claire, our support staff was brilliant and all female (how cool is that?). Elise, Alyssa, Noelle, and Caroline brought enthusiasm and fresh ideas into the room daily. Basically, we were spoiled.
What makes you tick as a team? Have you developed a shorthand for communicating?
Not a shorthand, per se. But we have a natural pace and flow when we work together. It just clicks. I know what kind of pitches T&D like, and what rhythm they tend to think in. Basically, I felt right at home on day one, and I suspect Claire felt the same. Matt and Phil brought their own energy and rhythm to the room, too. So over time, the whole group merged into a lovely hybrid style pretty quickly.
Did you have any nostalgia moments working together again?
Shadowhunters was referenced constantly, of course. But Todd and Darren also have traditions they like to bring into each room. ‘The movie game’ is one — someone names a movie, and then the next person has to name an actor in that movie, then the next person has to name a movie that actor was in, etc). Charcuterie and bonding is another — we end each work week with snacks and friendly chatting. One particular debate about which Spindrift flavor is the best gave me serious nostalgia for the Shadowhunters La Croix debate (the answer to both is grapefruit, people!).
What are the benefits and challenges of adapting a book series to television?
The benefits are the built in fan base and the amazing material we get to work with. The challenges are making a show that captures the essence of the book(s), while also forging its own path as a screen adaptation. I’ve been a disappointed fan before, and it’s painful to see a beloved story chopped up or misinterpreted. So we really tried our best to be faithful to the story and its characters, while still peppering in some surprises for the book fans.
Does having child actors as leads change the writing process in any way?
Well, children can’t have angsty romances, so that was definitely an adjustment from Shadowhunters! But honestly, it wasn’t much different because 11 and 12 year old kids don’t really speak much differently from adults. They’re pretty damn smart and sophisticated by that age — especially this cast of genius children.
The bigger challenge was avoiding pop cultural references. The show lives in a nebulous time period, with a really cool retro aesthetic that is never explicitly identified. So there was no place for my favorite movie/TV/music name-drops. They’d be outdated for today’s tweens, anyway (le sigh…).
What can we look forward to on The Mysterious Benedict Society?
Striking visuals, quirky characters, intriguing puzzles, and shocking twists. Oh, and two Tony Hales!
Watch the premiere of The Mysterious Benedict Society June 25th on Disney+.
All promo images courtesy of Disney+.
