A new fantasy adventure lands on Netflix this October with The School for Good and Evil, a film adaptation of Soman Chainani’s 2013 bestselling novel of the same name, which kicked off a popular book series. Released on October 19, the movie stars Sofia Wylie (High School Musical: The Musical – The Series) as Agatha and Sophia Anne Caruso (The Sound of Music Live!) as Sophie, the inseparable friends whose destinies take unexpected turns. Jamie Flatters (So Awkward) plays Tedros, the charming son of King Arthur and the school’s heartthrob.
Directed by Paul Feig, who also co-wrote the screenplay with David Magee, the film’s production involved notable names such as executive producers Stephen Jones, Zack Roth, Chris Castaldi, Soman Chainani himself, and Patricia Riggen. Producers include Joe Roth, Jeffrey Kirschenbaum, Laura Fischer, Paul Feig, and Jane Startz. The star-studded cast features Kit Young, known from Shadow and Bone, as Rafal; Kerry Washington (Scandal) as Professor Dovey; Charlize Theron (Snow White and the Huntsman) as Lady Lesso; Laurence Fishburne (The Matrix) as the School Master; Michelle Yeoh (Crazy Rich Asians) as Professor Anemone; Cate Blanchett (Guillermo del Toro’s Pinocchio) as the narrator and the voice of the Storian; and Ally Cubb (RuPaul’s Drag Race UK) as Gregor.
Set in the village of Gavaldon, the story follows Sophie and Agatha—two friends who have always felt out of place. Sophie, with her golden hair and dreams of royalty, yearns to be a princess, while Agatha, labeled ugly and gloomy by the villagers, seems destined for witchcraft. One night, a mysterious force transports them to the fabled School for Good and Evil, where fairy tales begin. But their destinies are flipped: Sophie is sent to the School for Evil, governed by the strict Lady Lesso, while Agatha lands in the sunny School for Good, overseen by Professor Dovey. This reversal brands Sophie a “Never” and Agatha an “Ever.” Desperate to correct their assignments and stay together, they seek help from the School Master, who tells them that only a true love’s kiss can change their fate. Sophie is determined to claim this by kissing Tedros, the prince of the Ever school. However, a darker force connected to Sophie threatens to destroy the school and spread chaos beyond its walls.
The film took a decade to reach the screen, with producers Jeffrey Kirschenbaum and Joe Roth acquiring the rights when the book was still in manuscript form. Initially planned for release by Universal Pictures, Netflix secured the rights in 2020 and began production in early 2021. Chainani embraced the long wait, saying it allowed him to complete the six-book series without the film influencing his writing. He recalled early challenges but felt the transition to Netflix fostered a more positive collaboration.
With a Columbia University MFA in film, Chainani insisted on being deeply involved in the adaptation, working closely with the screenwriters to ensure the screenplay captured the book’s core themes and spirit without slavishly adhering to every detail. He emphasized that fidelity to tone and key moments mattered more than superficial traits, like a character’s eye color. Notably, Chainani was adamant about excluding dragons from the story, a deliberate choice to avoid clichés—a secret Easter egg for fans.
The cast became like family, Chainani shared, highlighting the strong bond formed with stars like Caruso, Wylie, and Young. He fondly recounted a humorous moment when they were mistaken for a Christian prayer group, which included actress Patti LuPone.
Now that the film is out, Chainani feels a new kind of pressure compared to writing books. Unlike novels, which bring a sense of completion, a movie’s reception is unpredictable, making the process more uncertain. Looking ahead, fans can anticipate the prequel Fall of the School for Good and Evil due next May, a graphic novel set in the same world, and a TV adaptation of his book Beasts and Beauty. Chainani hopes to rest after the graphic novel and perhaps create a new series.
At events promoting the film, Chainani treasures his producer’s chair from the set as a reminder of storytelling’s power and limitless possibilities. Ultimately, he hopes audiences take to heart the film’s message that friendship can be even more profound than fairy tale romance, redefining “true love” in an enchanting new way.
