Uglies, which is based on the novel by Scott Westerfeld, is finally streaming on Netflix! I had the opportunity to speak with the author, who serves as an executive producer on the movie, along with cast members Joey King, Brianne Tju, Keith Powers, Chase Stokes, and Laverne Cox all about the adaptation. Please note: these interviews will contain spoilers.

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.

King, who not only stars as Tally but also serves as an executive producer, reflected on what the project means to her, saying, “When I was young, there was just this ferocious love of Tally that I had and of her journey and of how when we first meet Tally, she’s not necessarily the hero that we want because she is indoctrinated as well. Like, she is totally on board with what is the world that’s presented to her and so, we as readers grow with Tally, and we see her change, and we see her open her mind, and really be brave enough to grow. I think, as a young girl, that really resonated with me and just opened up a nice path for me to be a person who’s open to growth and doesn’t get too stuck in her own ways. And so, seeing this through now is just like, it’s an amazing full circle moment for me. I’ve always wanted to play Tally and it’s pretty insane. It was a long road to get this movie made.”

“It’s interesting because in the very beginning, actually, when Shay and Tally meet after running away from the warden, Shay is on the fence and she knows it’s something that she wants to explore, the Smoke, but she’s kind of afraid to take that leap of faith. It’s really in Tally and Shay’s friendship and that sort of love and support of one another that actually makes Shay realize she is good enough as she is and she doesn’t want to change,” Tju commented regarding her character’s big decision. “She wants to share that with Tally but, of course, she wants Tally to make that decision for herself. But, yeah, I mean, I’m so inspired by Shay being able to challenge beauty standards and the norm, and want to explore and keep growing. I mean, I think it’s such a beautiful thing. It’s incredible that a 15-year-old in this story is able to make that decision for herself.”

“I think you’ve seen a lot of David’s parents in his whole makeup, you know what I’m saying? He’s one of those — he’s born into a system, but it’s a really good system. They’re teaching him a way of life that I feel like us in the everyday world should be taught,” Powers told me. “You see that in his leadership. You see that in the way he just handles his people and even new people coming into what the Smoke is and I think that was so important to see. As a young Black male, too, it was dope to see two Black parents raising this Black son in this world, and we don’t talk about color in this film or talk about race or backgrounds, but it’s still amazing to see because it’s that young Black child out there watching the film and seeing that. I think that was so powerful and I thought that was really cool. I hope when people watch, they see that in David and they recognize just seeing his household and his two parents and how much that affects him in a positive way.”

Stokes then opened up about Peris’ “interesting journey,” explaining, “It’s not directly how the book portrays him, but it was fun to play something that had the different layers and to be able to go through the stages of the character. Going with the parents element of it, you see how much he clings to Tally in those early moments in the film because that is his version of family in the ways that this world is presented to them and in the ways that he knows it to be is we have to wait. We have to wait until after we have our procedure to move forward and I think when he realizes in those moments later on that something’s not right, we’re seeing that shift of him trying to find his found family, so to speak. I think we have this perception in society that family is blood-oriented, but we realize as we get older that our closest friends and colleagues along the way also become family.”

Westerfeld actually appears on-screen and shared, “It was really fun getting into costume. I love my costume. It really fit well. I sent my measurements ahead of time and realized, ‘Oh, wow, bespoke,’ like, ‘This was made for me. I could get used to that.’ It was just really fun to be a working actor for a minute, to have to get that wheelbarrow in the right spot at the right time for 10 takes or something. You are really a part of community when you go out and get up at 7 AM and all these people are away from their families, they’re away from their homes, they’re doing crazy hours and all to make this one thing and to make it as good as possible. On the one hand, I was kind of on the outside as an executive producer, but once I put on my costume, I’m like, ‘Yeah, let’s get this take.’ So that was really fun.”

“For me, as an actor, I don’t approach her as bad. I don’t think of her — I can’t judge a character. I always have to empathize and feel the connection with the character. So for Dr. Cable, her intention is to create a society where no one is discriminated against because of the way they look,” Cox, who takes on the role of Dr. Cable, expressed. “My goal and objective is to create an equal society and so, that is what I want, that is the character’s intention.”

We talked about big character moments, which qualities make the perfect dystopian hero or villain, why the themes are still relevant today, wanting to continue the story, and much more.

Watch my interviews below: