Joey King Battles a Dystopian Society’s Beauty Standards in ‘Uglies’
“All my life, I wanted to be pretty. I thought it would change everything.” This sentiment is explored in the newly released trailer for the film ‘Uglies’.
Based on the 2005 sci-fi novel by Scott Westerfeld, the movie is set in a future where citizens undergo cosmetic surgery at age 16 to become “pretty” and fit into society. The protagonist, Tally (played by Joey King), discovers that the pursuit of beauty conceals dark, internal secrets and sets out on a mission to rescue her friend who has fled and to challenge the oppressive societal norms.
King and ‘Outer Banks’ star Chase Stokes are joined by Keith Powers, Brianne Tju, Jan Luis Castellanos, Charmin Lee, and Laverne Cox in the film.
Directed by McG, ‘Uglies’ is based on a screenplay by Jacob Forman, Vanessa Taylor, and Whit Anderson. The film is produced by John Davis, Jordan Davis, Robyn Meisinger, McG, and Mary Viola, with Joey King, Jamie King, Scott Westerfeld, John Fox, and Jenny Hink serving as executive producers.
In an interview with Tudum, McG explained that the film focuses on inner beauty and critiques the modern obsession with showcasing an idealized version of ourselves on social media, where images are heavily filtered and edited. He emphasized that the film encourages viewers to take a deep breath, focus on their inner selves, appreciate people for who they truly are, and accept themselves as they are. According to McG, this approach leads to a more fulfilling and meaningful way of living.
‘Uglies’ will be available for global streaming on OTT starting 13th September.
Also Read: Paul McCartney Reveals ‘Captivating’ Screenings of Rare Wings Documentary ‘One Hand Clapping’
In other news, footage of Drake rehearsing a cover of Michael Jackson’s ‘Rock With You’ has surfaced from his 100gigs.org collection, a newly released archive containing 100GB of fresh content. On 6th August, the rapper launched a website packed with archived footage, data, and three previously unheard songs. Among the content is a video of Drake rehearsing ‘Rock With You,’ where he can be seen performing on a lit-up floor reminiscent of Jackson’s iconic ‘Billie Jean’ video.
–Silviya.Y
