After coming fresh from the comedy ‘A Family Affair,’ Joey King teams with Netflix again in the upcoming dystopian film ‘Uglies,’ in which she also served as an executive producer. Keith Powers and Chase Stokes also star. With the first trailer out, many people are wondering if the film, coming out on Sept. 13, is based on a book.
And, yes. The movie is based on the first novel by Scott Westerfeld of the same name. The book was first published in 2005. It turns out that King was a fan of the novel. “I was like, ‘I wanna play Tally Youngblood someday,’” the actress told Netflix Tudum about her love for the story.
The sci fi movie is set in a dystopian future in which everyone is considered an “Ugly” when they are born. However, upon reaching their sixteenth birthday, people undergo a cosmetic surgery to become “Pretty.” Here’s all you need to know about the series.
How many books are there in the series?
The original story, following Tally Youngblood, was a trilogy: Uglies, Pretties and Specials. However, it was expanded with a fourth book titled Extras. Then, Westerfield announced that he was going to write another four novels set in the same world. Three of them have already been released: Impostors, Shatter City and Mirror’s Edge.
Is Scott Westerfield involved in the film ‘Uglies’?
Yes, Westerfield was a collaborator in the process of making the film, serving as an executive producer. The author worked closely with director McG, who is known for films such as “Charlie’s Angels” and “The Babysitter.”
To Westerfield, it was important that McG was really respectful of the original material, making questions about the book. “This guy really cares about the book and the world it creates—every little detail that makes the story feel authentic and specific,” he told Netflix Tudum.
McG expressed his appreciation for the collaboration, saying, “I discussed the book extensively with Scott to ensure we got it right. He was a fantastic partner throughout the process. We were fortunate to have him involved.” Additionally, Westerfeld has a small cameo in the film.
