Netflix’s ‘The School for Good and Evil’ Presents an All-Star Cast

Netflix released its new fantasy drama film The School for Good and Evil on Wednesday, October 19 2022, featuring a star-studded cast including Kerry Washington, Michelle Yeoh, Charlize Theron, and Laurence Fishburne among others. 

Directed by Paul Feig of Bridesmaids, the movie is a live-action adaptation of the novel of the same name by Soman Chainani, published in 2013. 

The School for Good and Evil is the first of a six-book series, followed by The School for Good and Evil #2: A World Without Princes (2014), #3: The Last Ever After (2015), #4: Quests for Glory (2017), #5: A Crystal of Time (2019), #6: One True King (2020). 

If the film performs well, we could expect a franchise down the line.

The focus of the movie is love and friendship as two best friends, Sophie and Agatha face the test of time. The two attend a Hogwarts-like school called The School for Good and Evil (SGE) but are separated, with Sophie being shipped off to The School for Evil with the Nevers and Agatha to The School for Good with the Evers. 

As Sophie tries to escape from The School for Evil to find her best friend, she learns that she must find true love to switch schools. Sophie's tireless quest for love, initially convinced that the charming prince Tedros is the one, becomes messy as her evil side takes over, and she falls for Rafal, an evil being who plans to rule the world. 

Eventually, Sophie, Agatha and Tedros fight to defeat Rafal and reverse his curse against the world. Though they succeed, the battle costs Sophie's life as she risks herself to save Agatha. However, Agatha's tears for her dying friend heal her wound, and Sophie revives, proving that the love of friendship overcomes all.

Sophie and Agatha return to their former lives, and Agatha kisses her newfound love interest, Tedros goodbye, saying that she can't leave her friend. But as the film ends, Tedros' arrow pierces the veil between Sophie and Agatha's normal life and the magical realm, and it is disclosed that 'this is only the beginning.'

From the way the film wraps up, we could be looking at a sequel to come.

You bet your sweet bippy that there’s a trailer! Netflix released the official trailer for The School for Good and Evil a month ago, hinting at the fantasy action to come and some of the featured casts. 

We see Sophie’s cryptic transformation while at the School for Evil to become a beautiful but vile creature. 

The streaming platform also released an additional trailer nine days ago for your viewing pleasure.

Sophia Anne Caruso, who portrayed Emma on CBS' Evil, plays Sophie while Sofia Wylie of High School Musical: The Musical: The Series plays Agatha. Jamie Flatters portrays prince Tedros, the breakout star Kit Young of Shadow and Bone plays Rafal and his twin brother Rhian while Peter Serafinowicz of FOX’s Running Wilde plays Yuba. 

Kerry Washington is Professor Clarissa Dovey, the Dean of the School for Good, whereas Charlize Theron is Lady Leonora Lesso, the Dean of the School for Evil. Washington and Theron’s characters are longtime best friends in the novels, and their relationship is traversed in the film adaptation. 

Michelle Yeoh of Marvel’s Shang Chi portrays Professor Emma Anemone, a teacher at the School for Good. She instructs a class called Beautification. 

The Matrix star Laurence Fishburne plays the schoolmaster, while Hollywood sensation Patti LuPone plays Mrs Deauville, the owner of a storybook store. There's also Rob Delaney as Stefan, Sophie's father and Rachel Bloom as Honora, Sophie's stepmother.

Finally, Cate Blanchett features behind-the-scenes as the movie's voiceover.

The fantasy film has received relatively favorable ratings so far, scoring 79% on Google Reviews, 5.9/10 on IMDb, 38% on Rotten Tomatoes and 31% on Metacritic. The audience gives the movie a higher score of 74% on Rotten Tomatoes. 

According to critics, “The cast is game and the visuals are dazzling, but a deeply derivative narrative means The School for Good and Evil flunks on the storytelling front.”