Laverne Cox and Keith Powers are set to star in the dystopian fantasy film Uglies for Netflix. Joey King, Brianne Tju and Chase Stokes are also cast in the film which is based on the first installment of Scott Westerfeld’s dystopian YA book series.
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Uglies is set 300 years in the future, in a world where everyone undergoes government-mandated plastic surgery at 16 that conforms them to society’s beauty standards. The story follows Tally Youngblood (presumed to be King’s role), a teen girl excited to undergo her operation, until she learns shocking secrets about the procedure, what the government is doing behind closed doors, and what life is really like outside her city’s limits.
Other cast roles have yet to be disclosed.
Uglies debuted in 2005 and was followed by three more books: Pretties, Specials, and Extras. In 2018, Westerfeld announced plans for four new books set in the same universe, in a new series called Impostors.
McG is directing Uglies based on Krista Vernoff’s screenplay adaptation.
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John Davis and Jordan Davis are producing for Davis Entertainment Company, with Robyn Meisinger for Anonymous Content, Dan Spilo for Industry Entertainment, and McG and Mary Viola for Wonderland. Joey King is exec producing alongside Jamie King, Scott Westerfeld and John Fox.