Netflix has kicked off Tally’s story with the sci-fi movieUglies, but there’s only one way this character’s true ending is likely ever to make it to the screen.The 2024 movie is based on the first book in author Scott Westerfeld’sUgliesseries, which has two direct sequels,PrettiesandSpecials, that will hopefully make it to Netflix as well one day.However, whileSpecialswrapped up Tally’s time as a protagonist, Westerfeld brought this character back for his spinoff novel series, thus continuing her story. Unfortunately, it seems unlikely that these will ever be adapted.
AfterUglies,Pretties,andSpecialstook the YA book world by storm, Westerfeld continued his exploration of his dystopian world withExtras(2007), set a few years afterTally successfully spreads the Pretty-head curearound the world. While Tally is no longer the POV character, she, Shay, and David make an extended appearance. Then,in 2018, Westerfeld began publishing hisImpostersseries, set about 20 years afterSpecials. These four books again follow a new protagonist, but in the final installment,Youngbloods, Tally appears again.
Netflix Would Have To Make 8 Movies To Finish Tally’s Uglies Story
The Story In Uglies Extends Far Beyond Tally (But She Is Still Involved)
Thesequels to theUgliesseries reveal that Tally, who was turned into one of Dr. Cable’s supersoldiers inSpecials, escapes into the wild following the spread of the cure (along with David) with the primary goal of protecting nature from the awakening of humanity.Extrasand theImpostersseries see this through, and each time that Tally appears, it’s with the intention of protecting the planet from greed and war.This gets all the more extreme in the final book ofImposters,YoungbloodswhenTally is forced to use nuclear weapons to stop AI from taking over the world(thus becoming a war criminal herself).
There is currently no confirmation that Netflix will adaptPrettiesinto a movie.
Of course, all of this is a long way off from the events of Netflix’sUglies. In order for Joey King’s version of Tally to ever get her ending on screen, a total of eight movies would have to be adapted—and that doesn’t seem likely.Uglieshas been a fair success on Netflix, claiming the top spot for movies in the US, butan eight-film sci-fi series would be an expensive endeavor, especially since Westerfeld’s spinoff books were never as well known asUglies.Still, there is a way these stories might be adapted one day.
An Uglies TV Show Would Be The Only Way To Fully Adapt Scott Westerfeld’s Books
An Extended Animated Series Would Be Perfect
With theUgliesmoviefinally released, it can certainly be hoped thatPrettiesandSpecialswill be adapted one day. However,the stories inExtras,Imposters,Shatter City,Mirror’s Edge, andYoungbloodsmight be better suited to a TV show. TheImpostersseries, especially, is very politically aimed since it focuses on a far more traditional dystopian society (since the Pretty lesions have been gone for 20 years and people have returned to hoarding wealth). With so much to explore, the longer format of a TV show could be the best way to proceed.
If Pretties and Specials perform well enough, then maybe Netflix would greenlight an animated TV show as a continued adaptation of Westerfeld’s work.
Still,a live-action TV show may still be too much of a financial risk, so Netflix could take a route that it has already hashed out with past originals—an animated series. The streaming company has done something similar withThe Witcherfranchise to excellent effect, so it’s not out of the realm of possibility. Of course, such a thing would depend on the success of any futureUgliessequel movies.IfPrettiesandSpecialsperform well enough, then maybe Netflix would greenlight an animated TV show as a continued adaptation of Westerfeld’s work.Then, Tally’s full ending (and perhaps even more) could grace small screens.
Uglies
Cast
In a futuristic society where everyone undergoes compulsory cosmetic surgery at 16 to become “pretty,” Tally eagerly awaits her transformation. However, when her friend goes missing, she embarks on a journey that challenges her beliefs about beauty, conformity, and rebellion, ultimately questioning the foundations of their world.
