Beastly - Film Adaptation

Film Adaptation

Vanessa Hudgens and Alex Pettyfer played Lindy and Kyle, respectively, and Mary-Kate Olsen portrayed Kendra. CBS Films bought the feature rights to Beastly. This was the first project to be developed by the new film arm of CBS Corporation, with the option of the Harper Teen book announced in December 2007. Amy Baer, President and Chief Executive Officer of CBS Films, announced that Daniel Barnz would be directing the movie project. "Daniel's fresh vision makes him one of the most exciting directors of his generation," Baer stated. "We are thrilled to partner with him as he brings his unique voice to arguably the most universally resonant myth in storytelling." Susan Cartsonis produced the film through her company, Storefront Films, while Roz Weisberg co-produced. Barnz also wrote the screenplay for the film. Although it was the first project picked up by CBS Films it did not end up being their first release (which was the January 2010 release Extraordinary Measures), it was to be originally released on July 30, 2010. However it was postponed until March 4, 2011 due to competitive concerns from other films released on that date and late summer 2010 in general. Neil Patrick Harris played the blind tutor called Will. The movie was critically panned, but it catapulted Flinn's novel to the New York Times Bestseller list (#1) and USA Today Bestseller list, where it remained for several months.