Laverne Cox joins cast of Joey King’s Netflix film Uglies

The stellar cast of Netflix’s Uglies just got a whole lot more appealing. Laverne Cox is the latest addition to the upcoming fantasy film, directed by McG.

According to Deadline, the film is based on Scott Westerfeld’s science fiction novel of the same name published in 2005. Set in a dystopian future, it tells the story of a world where teens are required to undergo a plastic surgery operation at the age of 16, which will alter their looks to fit in with the ideal ‘beauty standards’. After the government sponsored operation, which will turn the previous ‘uglies’ into ‘pretties’, the citizens are transported to a new city to live out the rest of their lives in comfort.

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As a young woman,Tally Youngblood, is about to turn 16 she discovers some unsettling truths about the procedure and tries to thwart her fate.

Uglies is the first book in Westerfeld’s Uglies series. Other works include Pretties, Specials, Extras and Imposters.

The series will feature Joey King as the lead. In addition to King and Cox, other cast members include Keith Powers, Brianne Tju and Chase Stokes. King will also executive produce the film along with Jamie King, Westerfeld and John Fox.

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Cox is well known for her starring role on the Netflix comedy drama series Orange Is the New Black. Her role on the show earned her a nomination for an Emmy Award. She will next be seen in Inventing Anna, a drama mini series helmed by Shonda Rhimes.