The Mysterious Benedict Society - What We Know So Far
Fans of The Mysterious Benedict Society, an award-winning and best-selling book by Trenton Lee Stewart, were ecstatic to learn that the young adult novel was being adapted for television. The book, which has spawned three sequels and one prequel since first being published in 2007, follows four gifted orphans who have been recruited for a secret mission by an eccentric benefactor known as Mr. Benedict.
The first season of the show, which was created by Matt Manfredi and Phil Hay with Todd Slavkin and Darren Swimmer serving as showrunners, will be eight episodes in total and follows the events of the first book in the series.
We've been excited for this new TV show since news of it first broke in 2019, and we've been scouring the nooks and crannies of the internet to find every last bit of information about the show. Here's what we know so far about The Mysterious Benedict Society.
What is the release date of The Mysterious Benedict Society?
In November 2020, Disney announced that the upcoming adaptation of The Mysterious Benedict Society, which was originally developed for Hulu, was moving to its family-friendly streaming platform Disney+. "The Mysterious Benedict Society is a beautifully executed adaptation of the celebrated and beloved book series. It's original, clever and fun for the whole family, which makes it the perfect fit for Disney+," said Dana Walden, chairman of entertainment for Walt Disney Television, in a statement.
In late February, Disney+ made the official announcement that the first season of the show would make its debut on the streaming service this summer, on Friday, June 25. It is still unclear, however, if the plan is for the show to be rolled out weekly like WandaVision and The Mandalorian have been, or if Disney+ will follow the Netflix model and release the entire season all at once.
Who is in the cast for The Mysterious Benedict Society?
The Mysterious Benedict Society primarily features a cast of young actors, but it is led by Emmy Award winner Tony Hale (Veep), who stars in the series as the titular Mr. Benedict. The character is best described as being a bit rumpled and quite eccentric. He heads up the society of the series' title and recruits the children for their secret mission. Hale also portrays the character's twin brother, who may or may not be evil.
Portraying the four children at the heart of the show are Mystic Inscho as Reynie Muldoon, an intelligent boy who is, according to Deadline, "determined to always do the right thing"; Emmy DeOliveira as Kate Weatherall, an athletic and resourceful young girl who is quick on her feet; Seth Carr as George "Sticky" Washington, who suffers from anxiety but has the rare ability to remember everything he sets his eyes on; and Marta Kessler (previously announced as Marta Timofeeva) as Constance Contraire, a very tiny girl who has a large chip on her shoulder.
Also appearing in the show are Kristen Schaal as Number Two, the loyal right-hand woman of Mr. Benedict; Ryan Hurst as Milligan, a proctor with the Mysterious Benedict Society; MaameYaa Boafo as Rhonda, another one of Mr. Benedict's lieutenants; and Gia Sandhu, as Ms. Perumal, Reynie's tutor at the orphanage.
What is the plot of The Mysterious Benedict Society?
If you have not yet read the books by Trenton Lee Stewart that serve as the inspiration for this new young adult series, that's totally okay. However, you might find yourself confused and wondering what this oddly titled show is all about. If that's the case, this is what you need to know before you watch: The Mysterious Benedict Society follows a group of orphans who all possess their own special unique set of skills. They have been personally selected by the eccentric Mr. Benedict to go undercover at a boarding school known only as The Institute, and their mission, which can apparently only be accomplished by children, is to attempt to stop a nefarious plot that has far-reaching, potentially global, ramifications. Along the way, the four kids, who are nothing alike, begin to form a bond and naturally create a new sort of heartwarming family among themselves.