Most people considered Kyle to be the perfect boy with the perfect life. He was tall, blonde, rich, and handsome and was dating the most popular girl in school. He had the potential to be smart but was too concerned with his looks and popularity to concern himself with anything else. But when he asks an ugly girl in school to the Prom as a joke, his life changes forever. In Beastly, 16-year-old Kyle Kingsbury angers a witchy girl in his class and is surprised when she turns him into a beast. He must find true love in two years to break the spell... and unfortunately, MySpace doesn't work. When a robber stumbles into his garden Kyle offers him a deal; he won't report him to the police if the robber brings Kyle his daughter. According to the author's note in the back of the book, Flinn researched many versions of the Beauty and the Beast story in writing her book. Many of these are playfully alluded to in portions of the book, particularly the chat room transcripts in which the character of Kyle talks to other teens who have been transformed into creatures.

Novel by Alex Flinn

Accomplishments:

• ALA Quick Pick for Reluctant Young Adult Readers
• VOYA Editor’s Choice
• IRA/CBC Young Adults’ Choice
• New York Public Library Books for the Teen Age
• Texas Lone Star Reading List

Settings:

• Manhattan – Kyle’s apartment where he lives with his dad Rob
• SoHo – Sloane is shopping there when Kyle calls her/Kyle mentions it’s where a classmates throws the hottest parties
• Brownsville – mentioned as Linda’s new school
• Countryside on the outskirts of town – Adrian takes Linda there to see real snow
• The Plaza – where Tuttle has their dance
• Subway trains/stations
• Strawberry Fields - Linda mentions going there to read after school

Film directed by Daniel Barnz
Produced by CBS Films

Backstage - ETOnline - SciFi Wire - Variety - The Wall Street Journal - The Hollywood Reporter

"It’s called Beastly, and it’s very interesting, it’s different, and it’s very sweet – it’s a great love story"
- Vanessa {Extra}

"As we head back to Alex's hotel, he talks about his next project, a film called Beastly: 'Its my first big Hollywood job,' he says proudly. 'I play a man who's obsessed with his own beauty, so its perfect casting.'"
- Alex {You Magazine}

"I might be doing a film called Beastly, it’s an Alex Flinn book and it’d be with Vanessa Hudgens. She’s really talented. She’s yet to prove herself so far because she’s only been in musicals but she’s got the film Bandslam which is about to come out, and Sucker Punch and now she’s got Beastly too, which is cool. Will I be tempted to steal her off Zac [Efron]? No! she’s a beautiful girl but I wouldn’t steal her off her boyfriend! My kind of girl... maybe Natalie Portman, or Winona Ryder."
- Alex {link}

CBS Films has tapped Mary-Kate Olsen and Alex Pettyfer to star alongside Vanessa Hudgens in teen romancer "Beastly," with Susan Cartsonis producing via her Storefront Films shingle.
- Variety

Up next for Mr. Harris: He plans to shoot an independent film with actress Amy Sedaris, “The Best and the Brightest,” and then head to Montreal to work on “Beastly,” a modern take on “Beauty and the Beast” featuring Vanessa Hudgens of “High School Musical.”
- The Wall Street Journal

In "Beastly," a modern retelling of "Beauty and the Beast," Harris is playing a blind tutor who helps and bonds with a teen (Alex Pettyfer) who is shellshocked from being turned into a hideous young man. Vanessa Hudgens and Mary-Kate Olsen also star in the adaptation of the Alex Finn novel, being directed by Daniel Barnz. The movie is in preproduction in Montreal.
- The Hollywood Reporter

Peter Krause boosting 'Beastly'
Thesp joins Olsen, Pettyfer, Hudgens in 'Beauty'

Peter Krause has joined Mary-Kate Olsen, Alex Pettyfer and Vanessa Hudgens in "Beastly," the CBS Films adaptation of the Alex Flinn fantasy novel. Shooting is under way in Montreal.
- Variety

Beastly Teaser trailer || November 20, 2009



Beastly teaser trailer: November 20, 2009

"This is a serious romance and it definitely takes some dark turns which I think is good, because I don't think audiences just want fluff," Barnz says. "I was very inspired by 'Say Anything.' I thought there was this kind of rawness and visceral qualities of those years. Being 18 and 19 and what those years are like. So, I wanted to translate that into this film as well."

Producer Susan Cartonis is no stranger to quality female skewing flicks having championed hits such as "Where the Heart Is" and "What Women Want."

"I would call it an epic romance that is first for a young audience, but then spreads out for everybody including people my age," Cartonis says. "it doesn't condescend to the audience as the best romantic movies don't and that's what I feel most proud of it. I feel like Daniel has told a story that first and foremost is a love story, a story about transformation that has an epic feel about it."
- HitFix

"She has been really excited about showing other parts of her acting ability," said Barnz. "She is, as a person, feisty and spirited and winning, and these are all characteristics the character has. She has this fiery inside that comes out when she's tested."

Producer Susan Cartsonis - best known for producing the Mel Gibson vehicle What Women Want - said Hudgens was a natural for the role.

"She's kind of a ball of fire," said Cartsonis. "She seemed most perfect for the part."
- Canada.com

"I know Vanessa Hudgens doesn't look the way I described Lindy in the book, but she is the same person too. I was in New York two weeks ago, and I got to see about a 10-minute clip of the movie, the party scene where Kyle (as in the book) fights with Sloane, talks to Lindy, and snubs Kendra, then the scene back at his apartment with Kendra. Vanessa Hudgens comes off very smart, and sweet and self-deprecating as Lindy in the scene, and she was definitely in sharp contrast to Sloane, Trey, Kyle, and the other snotty kids at the school. This was the most important thing to me, that Lindy would be a normal, middle class, smart girl, and she nailed it. I really enjoyed her in Bandslam, and I look forward to seeing her in the whole movie."
- Alex Flinn {link}

ET Exclusive First Look: On-set of Beastly interviews || June 22, 2009


Preview snippet of First-Look: June 19, 2009

CBS: Exclusive Behind the Scenes Video || October 11, 2009

Place: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
Principal photography: June 13 - August 18, 2009 [Source]
Expected Release date: July 30, 2010

Future Titles:
Because Alex has "beautiful woman" to play against.
Because they're saving Alex as the 'Beast' as a surprise for Vanessa
Because thank you Daniel for giving Linda & Kyle a backstory!
Because Linda's a "dying breed" && we can't wait to see her thrive.
"We've been having a really good time, we're just starting off right now, but it's fun."
"It's really become such a nice set to be on, && everyone is so friendly"
"It's a very young-vibe, && we're all having a lot of fun."
"I've fallen in love with this place - I don't want to leave."
"It's just a great atmosphere, I don't know if there's a better place to film than here in Montreal."
"..word from the set is that everything has been running smoothly.
".. the 20 year-old is a pros pro with more range than most critics would give her credit for"
"It definitely is a step towards basically playing different things"
"This movie is pushing me as far as I've ever gone. I'm in love with the character."
"She's all over the place, but she's very strong. And the story. I love a good love story."
"She has been really excited about showing other parts of her acting ability"
"She has this fiery inside that comes out when she's tested."
"She's kind of a ball of fire," said Cartsonis. She seemed most perfect for the part."
".. my character gets herself in extremely awkward situations."
"..over the next year or so, Hudgens might get the last laugh."
"That brings us back to Hudgens.. this day's scene showed that the 20-year-old is a pros pro.."
"[She has] more range than most critics would give her credit for."
"What can I say? I'm substance over style."
"This was the most important thing to me, that Lindy would be a normal, middle class, smart girl, and she nailed it."
"I was only familiar with Vanessa Hudgens from HSM, but between what I watched a few weeks ago, and also, getting to see her in action on the set, I can tell she's a real pro."

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