Beastly
There are few settings where society's fascination with looks is more pronounced than high school. This was the thinking of screenwriter/director Daniel Barnz when first approached about a modern teen romance based on the classic "Beauty and the Beast" tale.
It was early 2008 and CBS Films had just acquired the film rights to Alex Flinn's young adult novel Beastly.
The book follows a shallow, popular seventeen year old who, via a curse from a classmate, is physically transformed with a new, unattractive exterior befitting his ugly interior. The only way to break the spell - find someone to love him in his new state.
Flinn had found a way to re-invent an age-old love story for a new generation. Barnz appreciated how the themes worked perfectly with the high school experience."In high school, everybody feels cursed in some way," notes Barnz.
"There are always those feelings of being different and not fitting in. Ultimately those differences make you a stronger, better person."
Lead character Kyle Kingson turns outcast as result of a particularly harsh attack on goth classmate, Kendra.
With witchlike powers, she decides to teach Kyle a lesson - a lesson that drives him to leave school and go into hiding. On his subsequent quest for love, Kyle is forced to face his demons.
Producer Susan Cartsonis (No Reservations, Aquamarine,What Women Want) instantly responded to the story's universally relatable themes. "Everybody wants to believe they're capable of change," says Cartsonis.
"Also, there's an overriding message in the story about the challenge not to judge people at first glance, to look deeper than surface level."
Beastly is the 6th published book from young adult author Alex Flinn. Aside from her desire to put a new slant on a well-known myth, Flinn was interested in the notion of second chances.
"The idea that something you do in an instant can affect your entire life intrigued me, especially as it relates to teens who usually don't consider the consequences of their actions."
The story's catalyst is Kyle's transformation to 'beast' but at its core is the romance between Hunter (Kyle's 'beast' alter ego) and his former classmate, Lindy. Hunter pursues Lindy (initially) out of necessity.
But for Lindy it's a case of a girl secretly pining for the unattainable hot guy at school - here, the girl gets him but doesn't actually know it. Cartsonis likes that this version offers a balance between both female and male points of view - a unique element for a story usually told only from the female perspective.
"Kyle has to learn what it really takes to woo a woman," explains Cartsonis. "And Lindy is a bit of an 'every girl' who can't help but see the good in even the jerkiest of guys - only here it actually pays off."
Beastly is released 22nd April
Tagged in Alex Pettyfer