Author Scott Westerfeld’s ‘Uglies’ Cameo Is A Character Cut From the Book, He Says: “I’m Technically The Boss”

Sharp-eyed viewers of the new Uglies movie on Netflix—and viewers who were really into young adult literature in the 2000s—may notice that about halfway through the film, author Scott Westerfeld gets a cameo.

The 61-year-old author published the first book in his best-selling Uglies series back in 2005, and, after a long journey, the book has finally been adapted into a Netflix film that began streaming today. Directed by McG, the Uglies movie stars Joey King as Tally, a teenager who lives in a dystopian future where everyone is considered an “Ugly” until they receive beautifying cosmetic surgery when they turn 16. Tally can’t wait to become a “Pretty” and join society. Then her friend Shay (Brianne Tju) decides she doesn’t want the surgery, and runs away to join a rebel society known as the Smoke.

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It’s here in the Smoke where Westerfeld got a chance to be on screen. It’s a blink-and-you’ll miss it moment. As Shay explains the inner-workings of the Smoke to Tally, there’s a quick cut to Westerfeld hauling a wheelbarrow, giving a nod to the camera. “Everyone has to work, even our elders,” we hear Shay say over this clip.

As Westerfeld revealed to Decider in a recent interview, he’s just not an anonymous “Wheelbarrow Smokie,” as he’s listed in the film’s credits. He’s a character from the book that was cut from the movie, known as The Boss. “Originally, my wheelbarrow was full of books,” Westerfeld said. “I’m actually, technically, The Boss.”

In the book, “The Boss” is not the leader of the Smoke, but his is in charge of the library there. Unfortunately, he’s one of the people killed when the Specials raid the Smoke encampment.

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When asked how he felt about the narration over this scene referring to him as an “elder,” Westerfeld laughed.

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“[The Boss is] a character in the books who not only is very snarky, he’s the oldest person that Tally has ever seen, who hasn’t had the operation,” Westerfeld said. “She’s like, ‘Oh my God, this is what happens when you get old without the operation!’ It’s one thing to see a 20-year-old or a 23-year-old. So in the book, I am A) the character who’s most terrifying to look at and B) I get killed! Which doesn’t happen in the movie—or at least, not on screen.”

Westerfeld, who is also an executive producer on the film, added that he got a call a week before he was supposed to be on set and asked if he wanted a cameo in the movie. It was a chance to get a taste of Hollywood actor life.

“I sent them my measurements and showed up, and there was this costume that fit me perfectly,” Westerfeld said. “I went to where the background actors were being coached. There was a second assistant director down there saying, ‘OK, this is what this book is about.’  I got to be undercover and watch that process unfold. Then, right when he got to the end, he recognized me and said, ‘Oh, crap! I’ve been describing the plot of the book to the author.'”

Oops! Let’s hope that AD kept it complimentary. You can catch Westerfeld’s cameo, and the rest of the Uglies movie, now streaming on Netflix.

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