The School For Good And Evil - What We Know So Far
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Netflix has been steadily building its collection of fantasy novel adaptations. In the last couple of years alone, the streaming company debuted "The Umbrella Academy," "The Witcher," "Warrior Nun," "Cursed," "Locke & Key," "Letter for the King," and "Fate: The Winx Saga" — just to name a few. Netflix beefed up that slate once again with the film "The School for Good and Evil," an adaptation of the first book in a six-part middle-grade series by author Soman Chainani.
Bearing the same name as the film, the first book in the series debuted in 2013. It tells the story of two young girls who get swept away to a mysterious school where boys and girls train to become fairy tale villains and heroes. As of Deadline's report in 2020, the franchise had sold more than 2.5 million copies and been translated into 30 languages worldwide.
With the smash hit novel series' live-action adaptation having premiered on October 19, 2022, it's as good a time as any to dig into the details of the project. Here's everything we know so far about Netflix's "The School for Good and Evil."
What is the plot of The School for Good and Evil?
Rather than the movie ignoring the book it was based on, "The School for Good and Evil" seems to largely stay true to the first entry of the original source material. As the broad strokes of the plot go, Sophie and Agatha are two young best friends that couldn't be more different from one another. The enthusiastic Sophie loves dresses and all things pink and prim, while Agatha is more reserved and cold, taking an interest in the darker, edgier aspects of the world. When the pair are whisked away to the magical School for Good and Evil, a place where students are trained to become the stars of fairy tales like Cinderella and Snow White, it initially seems obvious which of the two will become a hero and which will become a villain. Those expectations are quickly thrown out the door as Sophie gets closer in touch with her inner darkness and Agatha becomes increasingly compelled by her own moral compass.
Provided that the film stays true to the overall narrative of book series, readers should largely know what to expect out of the movie.
Who stars in The School for Good and Evil?
Avid film and TV fans may be impressed by the cast list for "The School for Good and Evil," as it's stacked with notable actors. For the main duo of protagonists, Sofia Wylie ("High School Musical: The Musical: The Series") portrays the edgy Agatha, while Sophia Anne Caruso ("Evil") plays her bubbly best friend Sophie (via Deadline).
As for some of the staff that oversee their mystical education, the movie features Laurence Fishburne ("The Matrix") as the enigmatic School Master, Kerry Washington as Dean of Good Clarissa Dovey ("Scandal"), Charlize Theron ("Mad Max: Fury Road") as Dean of Evil Lady Leonaro Lesso, and Michelle Yeoh ("Crazy Rich Asians") as Professor Emma Anenome (via /Film and Deadline). Elsewhere, Jamie Flatters ("The Forgotten Battle) and Kit Young ("Shadow and Bone") appear as the duo's peers, Tedros and Rafal, respectively (via Twitter). The film is also narrated by Cate Blanchett ("Thor: Ragnarok") (via The Wrap).
Miraculously, the names don't even end there. Peter Serafinowicz ("Parks and Recreation"), Ben Kingsley ("Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings"), Patti LuPone ("American Horror Story"), Rob Delaney ("Deadpool 2"), and Rachel Bloom ("Crazy Ex-Girlfriend") all feature, alongside a slew of further notable actors (via The Hollywood Reporter). Needless to say, this is one of those viewing experiences where there's a bunch of excited points at the screen and frantic whispers of "I know them!"
Who directed The School for Good and Evil?
"The School for Good and Evil" doesn't only have some impressive talent in its cast, but in its creative heads as well. Sitting in the directorial chair is none other than Paul Feig, creator of the acclaimed comedy series "Freaks and Geeks" and director of notable films such as 2011's "Bridesmaids" and 2016's "Ghostbusters" reboot.
Feig told Deadline that he intended to honor the quality of the original book series. "I'm truly excited to bring this amazing, touching, funny, and empowering world that Soman created in his wonderful books," he said. "I feel like a frog that just turned into a prince."
As for Soman Chainani, the author expressed his personal approval of Feig, stating: "To have one of your favorite directors adapt your book into a film for Netflix is an honor and a dream. Paul Feig is a brilliant filmmaker and a master of tone — a perfect fit for the twists and turns of 'The School For Good & Evil.' I have no doubt that he will make a true fairy tale classic."
Is there a trailer for The School for Good and Evil?
Those wanting a peek at the visually-arresting world of "The School for Good and Evil" are in luck, as several trailers and clips were released ahead of its premiere in October. Netflix debuted the first teaser for the movie in June 2022. It features a first look at Kerry Washington and Charlize Theron as the opposing deans of both Good and Evil respectively, alongside a preview of Sophie and Agatha's confrontation with the monstrous winged beast that ferries them to the magical school. September saw the reveal of the movie's official trailer, which delves deeper into the surprising paths that Sophie and Agatha will take during their storybook education and sows the seeds of the inevitable conflict between them.
Perhaps the most exciting preview that was released for "The School for Good and Evil," however, is a three-minute snippet from the movie itself. The official clip shows the sequence in which the professors awaken both Agatha and Sophie's inner magical powers. While Agatha proceeds with quiet reluctance, Sophie makes the biggest scene possible, strutting in with a gothic outfit, skipping her classmates in line, and smugly requesting her powers. Set to the thumping electro-beat of "you should see me in a crown" by Billie Eilish, it's definitely an over-the-top scene and offers the best idea of what tone the movie strikes.
What is the School for Good and Evil rated?
As noted by the official trailer for "The School for Good and Evil," the film has a MPAA rating of PG-13 for "violence and action, and some frightening images." The trailers contain a taste at some of those more intense scenes, including Agatha and Sophie getting abducted by a scary-looking bird creature, a glowing object pulsing underneath someone's bare, tattooed skin, and several characters doing battle with magic and physical weapons.
The rating of the film also roughly lines up with the subject matter of the original book. The official Amazon listing for "The School for Good and Evil" has a recommended reading age of 9 to 12 years and a general academic reading level of Grade 3 through Grade 7.