As someone who spent my formative years in the golden age of YA dystopian novels, I can wholeheartedly say that the upcoming Netflix adaptation of Scott Westerfield’s “Uglies” has been a long-awaited dream come true. Growing up with books like these, it wasn’t just about escaping reality; it was about finding a mirror in those pages, seeing reflections of our own struggles and yearnings for change.
In the 1990s and 2000s, it’s likely that you remember encountering Scott Westerfield’s book Uglies, either on shelves or in the hands of your friends. During a period when young adult science fiction dystopian novels were extremely popular, this series stood out by tackling thought-provoking themes about societal beauty standards. In this imagined world, everyone undergoes cosmetic surgery at age 16. Remarkably, actress Joey King was one of the many young readers who embraced these concepts before she became part of the cast for a 2024 Netflix movie release.
During a conversation at the Los Angeles press day for the Uglies film adaptation, Joey King discussed the extended period between when she initially read the book and eventually starring in and producing the movie. She expressed this by saying: “There was quite a wait from when I first picked up the novel to finally releasing it as the lead actress and producer.
At age 11, I first read this book and became utterly captivated by Tally. I yearned to be just like her so intensely. Fast forward to when I approached Netflix with the idea, I was around 17 or 18 years old. My perspective on the book, while similar, had subtly changed due to my age at the time of reading it and how it impacted me as a teenager. This influence stayed with me throughout my teenage years. Now, having filmed this adaptation when I was 22, portraying a character of 15 and a half, and with its release approaching while I’m 25, the journey has been quite something.
Joey King has been pursuing the adaptation of one of her favorite childhood books into a movie for nearly 15 years, growing up alongside this dream. As she’s been acting since she was nine, it took courage to present her idea to a significant studio like Netflix. According to King, her desire to play Tally started when she read the book as a child and continued through her teenage years, which coincided with her role in the The Kissing Booth films.
Joey King’s roles in the young adult book adaptations alongside Jacob Elordi undoubtedly added an unprecedented appeal to the streaming platform following the massive viewership of the series upon release (with the second film garnering over 209 million viewing hours within its first month). Since then, King has taken on executive producer roles for numerous projects, and ‘Uglies’ is one of them. During our conversation, King stated:
Reflecting on it now, I can see the emotions I experienced back then more clearly. If only I’d had this perspective when I was younger, say at 11 or 16. However, life doesn’t work that way. You acquire such insight as you grow older. Unfortunately, it’s not something you just get when you’re young. What makes me happy is that by re-creating this, I could offer a glimpse of the past to my younger self – a tribute to my childhood love for it. And for those who read and found a connection with it too, it was an additional reward.
From being an 11 year old to her current age of 25, King told us that while her perspective on the content of the book has changed as she’s aged, what’s never changed is wanting to give to the part of her who resonated with the book the first time she picked it up. Her co-star, Brianne Tju, who plays Tally’s friend Shay, also spoke with us about how Uglies spoke to her over the years, saying this:
In my childhood days, I stumbled upon an intriguing book at the Scholastic book fair during elementary school. The captivating cover initially caught my eye, but as I delved into its pages, I was utterly engrossed by the world and characters it introduced. These characters were unique in their independence from parental influence, attending a boarding school where they enjoyed a certain level of freedom. This resonated with me profoundly since, although the characters’ choices were being restricted within the book, I found myself eager to exercise my own autonomy as I grew older. Ironically, it was this realization of choice that made the story even more appealing to me. Fast forward to now, I can hardly believe I’m portraying these beloved characters! It’s a surreal and exciting experience.
If you’re an admirer of the “Uglies” novel, there are several reasons to look forward to the film. Beginning this coming Friday, September 13th, it can be streamed with a Netflix subscription.
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2024-09-11 03:39