Uglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey King

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Uglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey King

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  • Who Is Joey King, and What Has She Starred in?
  • Uglies Is a Dream Come True for Joey King
  • Big Screen Adaptation of the Acclaimed Dystopian Hit

As a voracious reader and a film enthusiast, I can wholeheartedly relate to Joey King’s emotional journey with books. Just like her, I too found solace in the pages of my favorite stories as a child, dreaming of being part of those magical worlds.

25-year-old actress Joey King, who received a Golden Globe nomination, has been captivating audiences worldwide with her enchanting and versatile performances in popular films such as “The Kissing Booth,” “Bullet Train,” “The Princess,” and “A Family Affair.” She also shone in the critically acclaimed TV miniseries “The Act” and “We Were the Lucky Ones.” At such a young age, she has consistently shown her remarkable talent as an actress by bringing uniqueness to every character and role she takes on.

King’s highly anticipated next venture will be the Netflix sci-fi film, titled Uglies, based on Scott Westerfeld’s bestselling young adult novel. The story revolves around Tally Youngblood, a teenage heroine who bravely challenges societal norms concerning beauty ideals. This film is a cherished project for the skilled actress, as she has been an admirer of the book since her youth and harbored dreams of embodying the strong-willed character. Let’s explore why Joey King seems tailor-made to portray Tally in this dystopian adaptation.

Who Is Joey King, and What Has She Starred in?

Uglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey KingUglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey KingUglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey King

Without a doubt, Joey King is one of Hollywood’s most promising young talents and charming up-and-coming stars. She started acting at only four years old, and her first significant role was providing the voice for Katie in the 2008 hit animated film Horton Hears a Who!, marking the beginning of her remarkable career. King’s breakout role came opposite Selena Gomez in the heartwarming family dramedy Ramona and Beezus. Since then, she has appeared in an impressive variety of films, including The Dark Knight Rises, The Conjuring, Oz the Great and Powerful, and White House Down.

2018 saw King catapult to global stardom by co-starring with Jacob Elordi in Netflix’s hit teen rom-com “The Kissing Booth.” This film quickly climbed the charts as one of the most watched and beloved movies globally, leading to a popular trilogy on the platform. The gifted actress then solidified her reputation by taking the lead in the biographical crime drama “The Act,” where she played Gypsy Rose Blanchard opposite Patricia Arquette as Dee Dee Blanchard. Her exceptional performance earned her a Golden Globe and Primetime Emmy nomination, cementing her as a highly demanded actress in the industry.

King has maintained her reign across both large and small screens, featuring in the action comedy “Bullet Train,” “Despicable Me 4,” and more recently in the romantic comedy “A Family Affair” alongside Nicole Kidman and Zac Efron. She captivated audiences with her performance as Halina Kurc in the critically acclaimed historical drama miniseries “We Were the Lucky Ones” of 2024, and is soon to appear in a much-anticipated Netflix film adaptation: the science fiction action movie “Uglies.

Uglies Is a Dream Come True for Joey King

Uglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey KingUglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey KingUglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey King

Following her ability to flawlessly adapt any genre or character, King chose to merge her acting talent with her literary enthusiasm, taking on both the leading role and executive production for the Netflix film titled “Uglies“. This movie is an adaptation of Scott Westerfeld’s novel, falling under the sci-fi genre. In this production, King will portray Tally Youngblood, a keen young character eagerly anticipating her 16th birthday when she will be deemed “attractive” after enduring extensive cosmetic surgeries, which are considered a rite of passage in the dystopian society.

Despite announcements about the movie version being made as far back as 2006, the project came to a halt for an astonishing 14 years before it resumed in 2020. During this time, Uglies, a popular YA bestseller, returned to development with King set to star. For years, King tirelessly pursued the rights to this beloved book because she was an ardent fan of author Scott Westerfeld and identified with the story during her teenage years. In a 2022 interview with Deadline, King shared her excitement for the upcoming adaptation.

I found great excitement back then, as the Uglies series held significant meaning for me during my childhood. It’s truly surreal to have been involved in bringing those stories to life on the big screen and to enjoy every moment of it – a dream come true! I discovered my affection for these books at the tender age of 11.

King consistently demonstrates her exceptional acting skills across various roles, such as delivering a heart-wrenching performance as an emotionally tormented teenager in “The Act”, a sharp assassin in “Bullet Train”, and a young Holocaust survivor in the popular streaming series “We Were the Lucky Ones”. Her past role in the action-packed spectacle led by Brad Pitt has shown she can handle intense action scenes, and her knack for tapping into her emotions to deliver moving and impactful performances are some of the factors that made her an ideal choice for Tally Youngblood.

Big Screen Adaptation of the Acclaimed Dystopian Hit

Uglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey KingUglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey KingUglies Found Its Perfect YA Lead with Joey King

The much-anticipated adaptation of “Uglies” premiered on September 13, 2024. Fans of the acclaimed actress and renowned author can hardly wait to see what this Netflix production has in store. McG, known for films like “Charlie’s Angels” and “Terminator Salvation”, is directing the movie version. The author himself, Westerfeld, has been deeply involved in the project and even serves as an executive producer. Prior to the debut of this upcoming sci-fi film, McG shared with Netflix’s Tudum his enthusiasm and dedication towards faithfully adapting the book for the big screen.

I had an extensive conversation with Scott regarding the book, ensuring our interpretations were accurate. Scott was an incredible collaborator throughout the process, making us fortunate to have him involved.

This production showcases the extra skills of Keith Powers, Chase Stokes, Brianne Tju, and Laverne Cox. It revolves around the lively character, Tally Youngblood, who chooses to defy societal norms and challenge conformity following a life-altering spiritual quest. The storyline in both the book and movie delves into heavy emotional topics such as unattainable beauty standards, self-discovery, humanity, transformation, and King emphasizes that the film’s release is particularly relevant in our contemporary times. Emmy-nominated actress shares with Collider:

I was incredibly excited when I learned I’d be playing Tally Youngblood in this book series adaptation. I’ve been a fan since I was 11, and this role has always been a dream of mine. Working with this amazing team is making it even more special, and the project looks absolutely fantastic. It’s moments like these that make me feel like saying, ‘Just pinch me!’ I know I’ll never forget how unique and meaningful this experience was for me.

Uglies is streaming on Netflix.

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2024-09-14 01:07