New Beastly Featurette Goes Behind the Scenes

By The Woman In Black
February 26th, 2010

We've seen the trailer and a slew of stills from CBS Films' upcoming feature Beastly, and today they sent over a brand spankin' new featurette that provides some behind-the-scenes footage and cast interviews.

Those interviewed include Alex Pettyfer, Vanessa Hudgens, and Mary-Kate Olsen. Also, Neil Patrick Harris fans finally get a glimpse of him as the blind and charming tutor, Will.

Beastly is an edgy teen romance about learning how to see past false surfaces to discover true inner beauty. Daniel Barnz is directing the project, which will hit theatres everywhere July 30, 2010. Susan Cartsonis is producing through her company, Storefront Pictures, and Roz Weisberg is co-producing. In addition to his role as director, Barnz wrote the screenplay, which is based on the Alex Flinn novel of the same name.

Beastly - Behind-the-Scenes/Interviews Featurette
Uploaded by dreadcentral. - Classic TV and last night's shows, online.

Synopsis
Kyle Kingson (Alex Pettyfer) has it all – looks, intelligence, wealth, and opportunity – and a wicked cruel streak. Prone to mocking and humiliating “aggressively unattractive” classmates, he zeroes in on Goth classmate Kendra (Mary-Kate Olsen), inviting her to the school’s extravagant environmental bash. Kendra accepts, and, true to form, Kyle blows her off in a particularly savage fashion. She retaliates by casting a spell that physically transforms him into everything he despises. Enraged by his horrible and unrecognizable appearance, he confronts Kendra and learns that the only solution to the curse is to find someone that will love him as he is – a task he considers impossible.

Repulsed by his appearance, Kyle’s callous father banishes him to Brooklyn with a sympathetic housekeeper (LisaGay Hamilton) and blind tutor (Neil Patrick Harris). As Kyle ponders how to overcome the curse and get his old life back, he chances upon a drug addict in the act of killing a threatening dealer. Seizing the opportunity, Kyle promises the addict freedom and safety for his daughter, Lindy (Vanessa Hudgens), if she will consent to live in Kyle’s Brooklyn home. Thus begins Kyle’s journey to discover true love in this hyper-modern retelling of the classic “Beauty and the Beast” story.

- Debi Moore