Netflix’s Uglies brings Scott Westerfeld’s sci-fi dystopia to amazing life

Joey King’s Tally Youngblood expresses her desire to be pretty in Uglies, Netflix’s new dystopian teen drama. In this futuristic world, 16-year-olds undergo a cosmetic procedure to become “Pretties” and conform to society’s beauty standards.

After the surgery, Pretties live in a community across the river, free from responsibilities. Those who don’t undergo the procedure are labeled as “Uglies.” Tally, eagerly anticipating becoming a Pretty, begins to question everything she knows about her life when she learns the true intentions behind the surgery.

Uglies is based on Scott Westerfeld’s 2005 novel, now brought to life on screen. In an interview with DailyTech, Westerfeld discusses the rise of dystopian themes in the 2000s, the impact of social media on beauty standards, and the importance of authenticity.

DailyTech: You’ve been waiting for the adaptation of your book for almost 20 years. How did you stay patient throughout this process?

Scott Westerfeld: Despite setbacks like a pandemic and strikes, the support from the cast, director, and Netflix kept the project alive. The passion of fans also played a significant role in making the movie happen.

You’re considered a pioneer in the young adult genre. Why do you think these themes resonate so strongly with teens?

Teenagers experience intense emotions, making them ideal for dramatic storytelling. Dystopian narratives, like Uglies, reflect the feeling of being controlled by external forces, a sentiment many teenagers can relate to.

As an executive producer, were there specific elements from the book that you insisted on including in the film?

It was crucial for the movie to stand out from typical dystopian portrayals. Instead of focusing on government oppression, Uglies explores the internal struggle of self-worth and conformity.

Given the current emphasis on beauty and image, do you think this is the perfect time for Uglies to be released?

Today, the narrative of Uglies resonates more with the digital manipulation of beauty on social media, rather than traditional plastic surgery. The pressure to present a perfect image online has become a prevalent theme, especially among young people.

It’s challenging to disconnect from the internet, even though it can be overwhelming at times.

Indeed, the pressure to curate a flawless online persona is intense, making it difficult to take breaks from the digital world.

[laughs]

Discussing the impactful line spoken by Joey towards the end, “I’m Tally Youngblood. Make me pretty.” How did you conceive of this line and its significance as one of the final lines in the story?

It’s intriguing how it serves as both the concluding line in the movie and the book, which was a deliberate choice for me. The progression of the last lines in the Uglies series – ‘pretty,’ ‘special,’ and ‘ugly’ – holds a symbolic meaning. I hope this subtle detail is retained as it reflects the interconnectedness of events and the cyclical nature of life.

The final line signifies the transition from one narrative to the next, emphasizing the continuous flow of challenges and solutions shaping our future. It mirrors the way life evolves, trends emerge, and problems transform into opportunities.

Uglies is currently available for streaming on Netflix.