CarolineS

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.

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

"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.”
- 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.
- THR

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}

Videos & Media

one two three

Mycoke.com: Exclusive Feature || February 24, 2010

Future Titles:
Because Alex has "beautiful woman" to play against.
Because they're saving Alex as the 'Beast' as a surprise for Vanessa
"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.
"It definitely is a step towards basically playing different things"
"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."
"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."
".. between what I watched a few weeks ago, & also, getting to see her in action on the set, I can tell she's a real pro."
"Lindy's coming... I need smart things to say - Good luck with that"
"Pretty gruesome huh? - I've seen worse"
"I'm not trying to buy her - You are, and she'll hate that"
"Working on Beastly was incredible. We had so much fun."
"You come near me, I taser your ass."
"She’s not the kind to be bought."
"A true study in contradictions, Lindy’s steely quiet masks a killer wit and wicked smarts."
"She’s neither a label whore nor a flashy alt-gal, but still way too original to be the ordinarian."
"Hudgens simply illuminates the screen."
"Hudgens has a pure and idiosyncratic look that makes us believe in Lindy's unique spirit."
"You almost forget the movie because she's so ... not beautiful so much as ... alive. Vivid. That's a face made for movies."
"Ms. Hudgens was to the camera born."
"Hudgens is a terrific, seasoned young actress who brings sunshine and sufficient realism to the film."
"Hudgens proves in this film that she is a talented actress and has the goods to be around for quite some time."
"It sucks its audience into believing that sometimes love truly can conquer all."

vivizanessafan

Thanks for opening, Car!!!

and looooove the title!

Thunderstorm

Thank you hon!

coinoperated_girl

TFTNT!

& I finally found a link to the movie! For real this time.

If anyone wants the link, I'll post it here if that's allowed

CHAD_Major

We're not allowed to post the links but since you put it out there that you have it people can PM you if they want it

cookie~monster

I saw one posted on LJ tonight.

Miss Fate

Thanks for the new thread Caroline!

Lovely title!

CarolineS

You're welcome girlies

and hahah those links have been spreading like wildfire on pms I think i sent one to like 5-6 people yesterday

FINALLY got to see it

Thunderstorm

I'm gonna see it soon as well!!I just hope that my Internet will be fast enough!!

CarolineS

Crossing fingers for you!!!

Thunderstorm

I'm glad that you girls got to see it.it was so worth the wait,wasn't it?

CarolineS

I really liked it LOVED v in it. she did such a good job !

BabiiVFanForeva

Finally got to see Beastly after such a longgg wait...that was so beautifulllllll ..I have this massive smile on my face cos I love it...awww

V did an amazing job as Lindy...so beautiful and talented...loveeeeeee! ..omgsh and her smile...so pretty! just lights up the whole screen everytime and makes me smile

so can't wait til the dvd comes out

vivizanessafan

oooohhhh.....you can't imagine how much!!

Elif_ZV

I just watched last 20 minutes yesterday.
amazing..! the ending was great. I was almost crying