Joey King and Brianne Tju are young adults trapped in a dystopian future in which perfection is everything in Netflix’sUglies. King first broke out as a child actor with the Selena Gomez-co-starring hitRamona and Beezusbefore finding further success with everything fromNetflix’sKissing BoothfranchisetoThe Act, for which she earned both an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination, andWe Were the Lucky Ones. Tju has been on a steady rise to fame over the past decade, holding leading roles in Prime Video’sI Know What You Did Last Summerand the Winona Ryder-led thrillerGone in the Night, among others.
King and Tju star in Netflix’sUgliesas Tally Youngblood and Shay, who live in a futuristic dystopian world in which the government mandates cosmetic surgery at the age of sixteen for all residents in an effort to stave off war and discrimination. Tally is eager for her turn to join the rest of society and get out of the dorms. Ever since her first memory, she has been excited to finally be beautiful. When a friend runs away, Tally embarks on a journey to save her that upends everything she thought she wanted.
Why Netflix’s Uglies Movie Took So Long To Release
Scott Westerfield’s young adult novel Uglies has had its movie adaptation in development since 2006, so why hasn’t the movie come out yet?
Alongside King and Tju,the ensembleUgliescastincludesThe Tomorrow War’s Keith Powers,Outer Banks' Chase Stokes andInventing Anna’s Laverne Cox. Hailing fromThe Babysitterdirector McG, the Netflix film serves as an adaptation of Scott Westerfeld’s sci-fi novel series, which spans four books and could potentially build into a new franchise for the streaming platform.
In anticipation of the movie’s premiere,Screen RantinterviewedUgliesstars Joey King and Brianne Tju, who offered advice for the younger audience watching the film. King admits she has always been a big fan of the books and reveals which scene she was most excited to bring to life, while Tju raves about working closely with King, and the two discuss what it was like preparing for the hoverboard stunts.
Tju Tells Viewers To “Be Inquisitive” & “Ask Questions”
Screen Rant: I watched this with my daughters, who are 11 and 13, and it really resonated with them. I think this message is going to do that for a lot of younger viewers. What would you say to the younger audience that’s going into this with that mindset that maybe they’re ugly?
Joey King: Well, honestly, it’s made for them. This book, I read it when I was 11 years old, and the feeling that it gave me is the feeling I hope that it gives your 11-year-old, and it is that it may not come naturally, it may not come easy, and it may be something you have to fight throughout your life, but you are perfect as you are. And to fight for self-acceptance.
Brianne Tju: Yeah, and to be inquisitive and to ask questions and be curious and challenge ideas and to really listen to what’s inside of you and how things make you feel, and not ignore that gut instinct. I think we all have a tendency to quiet that voice in our head, the good one, and I think it’s something that we should actually cultivate.
King Was Excited To Film The Journey To The Smoke
Joey, as a fan of the books, is there something you were most excited to film?
Joey King: I was really excited about the journey to the smoke, because reading that as a young girl, I really pictured it all in my head when I read those books. I really felt like I was there, I felt like I was watching it in real time. It transported me. And so I was really excited to see how we were going to be able to do that and have that come to life. And any scene with [Brianne] because I love you.
You guys are fantastic together. I love your relationship inUglies. What was your favorite thing about working with each other?
Joey King: How much time do you have?
Brianne Tju: Honestly, we had so much fun, and although at times the movie can be kind of heavy, to have that escape was really nice. And also just the support.
Joey King: We had so much fun together.
Brianne Tju: We really did. Obviously, you’re working long hours, there’s stunts, there’s a lot of different aspects, but to know that we had each other’s backs throughout the whole time, was very reassuring.
The Duo Were “So High In The Air” ForUglies' Hoverboard Scenes
Speaking of stunts, what was it like filming the hoverboard stuff?
Brianne Tju: So fun.
Joey King: It was so fun. Harnesses. Our first day filming together was one. We were sitting on the hoverboards so high in the air. And it was like, genuinely, we were so high in the air, and it was very scary, but it was fun to be able to do. It’s funny when, thinking about that scene, our very first take filming it, our acting was like… because we were so nervous, and saying the lines. By take, like, seven, we were like, okay, we are so high in the air, but we’re acting. We are actors, and we’re fine. So funny.
Are There MoreUgliesMovies To Come?
Did you read the books before this, Brianne?
Brianne Tju: Yeah, I saw them at the Scholastic Book Fair when I was in elementary school, and I just loved the cover so much that I wanted that book. I either want this eraser that smells like strawberries or that book. And I bought the book.
Joey King: Big price difference.
Brianne Tju: Probably, but I’m glad I did. And it’s so crazy having read it when you were young, and now being in the movie adaptation. It is just insane.
There’s more books. So there could be more movies.
Joey King: There’s more books. More books. I mean, there’s always, there’s worlds in which things that happen. I’m not saying much right now. I’m really just saying words. We’re really excited for people to see this one, and we’re excited for the future of these characters and to see what people enjoy. And really enjoying the moment here.
Tju Will Not Be In The NewI Know What You Did Last SummerMovie
Will we potentially be seeing you in thenewI Know What You Did Last Summermovie, Brianne?
Brianne Tju: No.
Joey King: Brianne’s not much for talking circles, right? She’s pretty good at answering.
AboutUglies
In a futuristic world that imposes a cosmetic surgery at 16, Tally is eager for her turn to join the rest of society. But when a friend runs away, Tally embarks on a journey to save her that upends everything she thought she wanted.
Uglies
Cast
In a futuristic society where everyone undergoes compulsory cosmetic surgery at 16 to become “pretty,” Tally eagerly awaits her transformation. However, when her friend goes missing, she embarks on a journey that challenges her beliefs about beauty, conformity, and rebellion, ultimately questioning the foundations of their world.
