David Farnor | On 12, Aug 2024

“All my life, I wanted to be pretty…” That’s the sound of Netflix getting its dystopian on in Uglies.

Based on Scott Westerfeld’s bestselling fantasy novel, the film is stil in a futuristic world that imposes a cosmetic surgery at 16 that makes everyone pretty by confirming to an ideal standard of beauty. Joey King stars as Tally, who is eager for her turn to join the rest of society. But when a friend runs away, Tally embarks on a journey to save her that upends everything she thought she wanted.

Co-starring Chase Stokes, Keith Powers, Brianne Tju and Laverne Cox, the film is penned by Krista Vernoff (Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19, Rebel) and directed by McG. And, with the book spawning several sequels – including Pretties, Specials and Extras – Netflix will be hoping to have its own Divergent or The Hunger Games on its hands.

Find out whether it has franchise potential on 13th September, when the film premieres on Netflix. Here’s the trailer:

 

Laverne Cox joins Netflix’s Uglies

12th December 2021

Laverne Cox has joined the cast of Netflix’s Uglies.

The film is based on Scott Westerfeld’s bestselling-dystopian fantasy novel, which is set in a world in which a compulsory operation at 16 makes everyone pretty by conforming to an ideal standard of beauty. First published in 2005, it has since spawned several sequels, including Pretties, Specials and Extras.

Krista Vernoff (Grey’s Anatomy, Station 19, Rebel) will pen the screenplay and at the helm will be McG, fresh from The Babysitter: Killer Queen, the sequel to his Netflix horror comedy The Babysitter. McG will also producer along with Mary Viola for Wonderland, plus John Davis and Jordan Davis for Davis Entertainment Company, Robyn Mesinger for Anonymous Content and Dan Spilo for Industry Entertainment.

In front of the camera, Cox (Orange Is the New Black) will play an unnamed role. It comes hot on the heels of her next appearance in Shonda Rhimes’ Netflix series Inventing Anna. She joins a cast that includes Keith Powers, Brianne Tju and Chase Stokes, as well as Joey King, who will star and also exec-produce, along with Jamie King and Scott Westerfeld.

 

Joey King to star in McG’s Uglies for Netflix

30th September 2020

Joey King will star in Netflix’s film adaptation of Uglies.

Scott Westerfeld’s bestselling-dystopian fantasy novel is set in a world in which a compulsory operation at sixteen makes everyone pretty by conforming to an ideal standard of beauty. First published in 2005, it has since spawned several sequels, including Pretties, Specials and Extras.

Now, it’s heading to the screen, with Krista Vernoff to adapt the screenplay. Vernoff is showrunner and executive producer of Grey’s Anatomy, along with its spinoff Station 19. Her new show Rebel, inspired by the life of Erin Brockovich and starring Katey Sagal, was recently picked up straight to series at ABC.

King has been a longtime fan of the Uglies young adult book series and will exec-produce alongside Jamie King and Scott Westerfeld. She is coming off the success of starring in the critically acclaimed Hulu limited series The Act, which earned her an Emmy, Golden Globe and SAG nomination for Lead Actress in a Limited Series or Movie. She is no stranger to Netflix, either, having starred in The Kissing Booth and The Kissing Booth 2, on which she also served as an EP.

The film will be directed by McG, fresh from The Babysitter: Killer Queen, the sequel to his Netflix horror comedy The Babysitter. McG will also producer along with Mary Viola for Wonderland, plus John Davis and Jordan Davis for Davis Entertainment Company, Robyn Mesinger for Anonymous Content and Dan Spilo for Industry Entertainment.

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