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

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



Preview snippet of First-Look: June 19, 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
"She's kind of the 'Beauty' of the story, but not the stereotypical Beauty that I think everyone thinks of."
"It's got a tale of love, && a tale of coming to reason with who you are as a person."
"We've been having a really good time, we're just starting off right now, but it's fun."
"It's neat being to be able to play like that, with people who really like what they're doin"
"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.

Previous Threads
01 02 03 04 05 06 07 08