New Delhi:
Joey King fans gather here. Netflix has finally released the trailer for Scott Westerfeld’s highly anticipated film adaptation. The Uglygives fans their first glimpse of a terrifying world that’s been years in the making. The trailer begins with Tally (Joey King) contemplating her lifelong desire to be “beautiful” as a Siri-like voice wakes her up in her luxurious, sinister dorm room. The tone is immediately set for a world where perfection is not just desired but mandatory. The clip quickly transitions to a formal gathering reminiscent of Divergent or The Giver, where teens eagerly await their transformation. Laverne Cox, as Dr. Cable, makes a chilling promise: “Whatever imperfections you have today, they will be taken away tomorrow by a brilliant procedure,” summing up the societal obsession with perfection.
Visually, the trailer shows Tally’s journey from conformity to rebellion, showing her sneaking around the city in a pig mask, a nod to Scott Westerfeld’s original book. The tension mounts when Tally is confronted with the sharp contrast between her friend Paris, who has already undergone the procedure, and Shay, who rejects the system entirely. “You get the surgery, they tell you what to do, and that’s it,” Shay warns, hinting at the dark realities behind the seemingly perfect world.
The trailer also features Keith Powers as David, the leader of the out-of-town rebel group The Smoke, who rejects surgery and chooses a simpler life. His appearance marks a turning point for Tally, as she begins to question the societal norms she once believed in.
Directed by McG and written by Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor and Whit Anderson, Uglies promises to be a thought-provoking exploration of beauty, identity and social pressure. Joey King also serves as an executive producer.
The film stars Joey King as Tally Youngblood, Chase Stokes as Paris, Keith Powers as David, Brianne Tju as Shay, and Laverne Cox as the formidable Dr. Cable. Set in a futuristic society, Uglies focuses on Tally as she eagerly awaits the day she will undergo a mandatory cosmetic procedure that transforms all 16-year-olds into flawless, model-like versions of themselves. However, when Tally’s new friend Shay questions the system and runs away, Tally is forced to confront everything she knew about beauty and society.
The film will premiere on Netflix on September 13.
