Following the success of “A Family Affair,” Joey King is set to star in another Netflix film, “Uglies,” premiering in September 2024. This highly anticipated adaptation of Scott Westerfeld’s bestselling novel will be directed by McG, known for his work on “Charlie’s Angels” and “Terminator Salvation.” The film also features a talented cast including Chase Stokes, Brianne Tju, and Keith Powers.
The script for “Uglies” was crafted by Emmy-nominated screenwriters Krista Vernoff and Vanessa Taylor. The project was first announced in September 2020 and has been in development for several years. Joey King, a longtime fan of the series, played a pivotal role in bringing the adaptation to Netflix. She convinced the streaming giant to option the series, leading to her signing a first-look deal with Netflix for future projects from her production company, All The King’s Horses.
“Uglies” is set in a dystopian world where a mandatory operation at the age of 16 erases physical differences, making everyone conform to an ideal standard of beauty. The story follows Tally Youngblood, who is eagerly awaiting her transformation into a “pretty.” However, her new friend Shay has doubts about the operation and runs away, leading Tally to discover the darker side of this seemingly perfect world. Tally is then faced with a difficult choice: find Shay and turn her in, or remain “ugly” forever. This decision will change her life and the world around her.
Joey King will portray Tally Youngblood, a role she has dreamed of playing since she was 11 years old. On the red carpet for “Bullet Train,” King expressed her excitement about the project, stating that the “Uglies” books had a significant impact on her as a child. She described the opportunity to star in and produce the film as a dream come true.
In addition to King, the cast includes Laverne Cox, Chase Stokes, Brianne Tju, Jillian Murray, Jan Luis Castellanos, Kevin Miles, Keith Powers, Alex D. Jennings, Kelly Gale, Robert Palmer Watkins, Jessica Galinas, Moose Ali Khan, Zamani Wilder, Jordan Sherley, Ash Maeda, Brett Hoyle, Jay DeVon Johnson, Joe Sterrey, Jason Parks, and Kate McSweeney.
Production for “Uglies” began in October 2021 and wrapped up in December 2021. Joey King shared her excitement on Instagram, posting a photo with the caption, “Can’t believe I spent the last several months playing a character I’ve dreamt about for 10 years. See you in Uglyville folks. #ThatsAWrap.” Scott Westerfeld also confirmed the completion of filming but noted that there was still a long way to go in terms of editing, visual effects, and music.
In February 2022, King revealed in an interview with Collider that the movie was “looking fantastic.” She praised McG’s direction and expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating that the footage she had seen looked “cool” even without special effects and coloring.
In August 2023, Scott Westerfeld provided a minor update on the movie, mentioning that “minor tweaks” were delayed by strikes. Later in 2023, McG shared with TooFab that he was finishing the film with Joey King and described it as an exciting, dystopian future story. He compared it to “Hunger Games” and expressed his excitement about the project.
In early 2024, additional filming took place in Atlanta, Georgia. The movie has been given a PG-13 rating in the United States for “some violence and action, and brief strong language.” The runtime for “Uglies” will be 1 hour and 40 minutes.
As fans eagerly await the release of “Uglies,” it’s worth noting that Netflix is also set to adapt another novel by Scott Westerfeld. A new series called “Leviathan,” produced by the studio behind “Beastars,” is scheduled to release exclusively on Netflix in 2025.
“Uglies” promises to be a thrilling and thought-provoking film that explores themes of beauty, conformity, and individuality. With a talented cast and crew, and the backing of Netflix, it is poised to be a standout release in 2024. Fans of the book series and newcomers alike can look forward to an exciting cinematic experience when “Uglies” premieres on September 13th, 2024.
Source: Deadline, Collider, TooFab
