In the wake of tragedy, high schoolers are left to solve a harrowing mystery in 13 Reasons Why.
Netflix has released the official trailer for the 13-episode adaptation of Jay Asher’s best-selling YA novel by the same name, giving viewers a preview to its upcoming dark teen drama surrounding a student’s suicide. The series, created by Brian Yorkey, of Broadway’s Next to Normal, and executive produced by Selena Gomez, releases March 31.
13 Reasons Why centers on teenager Clay Jensen (Dylan Minnette), who returns from school to find a box of cassette tapes from his classmate crush, Hannah Baker (Katherine Langford), on his porch. Hannah, Clay’s former crush, killed herself two weeks earlier. Through Hannah and Clay’s dual narratives, 13 Reasons Why weaves an intricate and heart-wrenching tale of teenage life, tackling the tough topics of depression, bullying and emotional abuse.
The trailer begins by showing a seemingly happy Hannah being admired by Clay before cutting to Hannah after the tragedy. “Why didn’t you say this to me when I was alive?” she asks.
Her mother (Kate Walsh) says she and her husband never got a note, but Clay and several of his classmates are shown reacting to the words she’s left behind. “I’m about to tell you the story of my life. More specifically why my life ended. And if you’re listening to this tape, you’re one of the reasons why,” she is heard saying on the tape.
When Clay questions his classmates, several are shown casting doubt on her credibility, with one calling her a “crazy drama queen who just killed herself for attention.” During a hallway outburst, Clay cries, “Everyone is just so nice until they drive you to kill yourself. Sooner or later the truth will come out.”
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When teasing the series last month, Gomez, who had been attached to the project since 2011, opened up about the personal stamp the book left on her and why she made bringing it to series her passion project.
“I was actually going through a really difficult time when they started production,” the singer-actress told reporters, including The Hollywood Reporter, at a Netflix press event. “I went away for 90 days, and I actually met tons of kids in this place that were talking about a lot of the issues that these characters are experiencing.”
Yorkey added, “Jay wrote this book that was incredibly, incredibly tragic and that was dark in so many ways, but ultimately was hopeful and ultimately, I think, about bringing light back into the world. I think it’s an experience that ultimately is bringing light to very difficult and dark topics in a very difficult and dark time.”
Gomez exec produced 13 Reasons Why with Mandy Teefey, Kristel Laiblin and Anonymous Content. Spotlight‘s Tom McCarthy directs several episodes. Watch the trailer below.
