Soman Chainani’s epically enchanted book “The School for Good and Evil” begins once upon a time on Netflix Wednesday, Oct 19 when it releases for the entire world to see. Chainani’s first installment in the fantasy book series arrived May 14, 2013, with two more books in “The School Years” trilogy, which captures main characters Sophie and Agatha’s time at the School for Good and Evil. Three more books followed in “The Camelot Years” trilogy, which follows the students’ ultimate quests into the Endless Woods, embarking on adventures in hopes of becoming part of their own fairytale.
The film adaptation of the first book of Chainani’s bestselling series arrives just in time for the Halloween season, and Netflix has recruited some heavy hitters for this mythical cast of characters.
Here’s who a complete “School for Good and Evil” cast and character guide.
Sophie (Sophia Anne Caruso)
Sophie has dreamed of her own happy ending since she read her first fairytale, and she knows she would make excellent marks in The School for Good once Mrs Deauville tells the girls about the school’s existence when they stop in her bookshop. Sophie’s best friend Agatha weighs down her aloof nature, and the two could not be more opposite, but when Sophie’s wish comes true and the girls do gain admission to the school, their fates become reversed, and we get to see a whole different side of Sophie. This is Caruso’s first big film role after making appearances in “I Am Number Four” (2011), “Smash,” and more. She also starred on Broadway in “Beetlejuice” and “Blackbird.”
Agatha (Sofia Wylie)
Agatha could not care less about fairytales and The School for Good and Evil. She would prefer to lurk in her graveyard home with her cat Reaper and grow up without all the legendary nonsense. But Agatha gets kidnapped when she tries to save Sophie, and she’s dropped in the School for Good where she discovers many different layers to herself. Sofia Wylie got her start on Disney’s “Andi Mack” (2017-2019), and she played Gina in “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series.”
The Storian (Voiced by Cate Blanchett)
The Storian serves as the film’s narrator, and Cate Blanchett voices the animated quill that records the story of Sophie’s and Agatha’s story before they even arrive at the school. Blanchett has earned Oscar buzz lately due to her role in the recently released “TÁR” (2022), portraying composer Lydia Tár. Blanchett is most known for roles like Galadriel in Peter Jackson’s “The Lord of the Rings” trilogy, Katharine Hepburn in “The Aviator” (2004) with Leonardo DiCaprio (for which she won her first Oscar), “Blue Jasmine” (2013) as Jasmine and “Carol” (2015) as Carol Aird. She reappeared as Galadriel in “The Hobbit” films, and she has voiced Valka in the “How to Train Your Dragon” films. Blanchett joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Hela in “Thor: Ragnarok” (2017), and she played Lou in “Ocean’s 8” (2018). More recent projects for Blanchett include voicing Kaa in “Mowgli: Legend of the Jungle.” portraying Bernadette in the film adaptation of the book “Where’d You Go, Bernadette” (2019) and portraying Phyllis Schlafly in “Mrs. America” (2020). Last year, she appeared as Dr. Lilith Ritter in “Nightmare Alley” (2021) and Brie Evantee in “Don’t Look Up” (2021). She will also voice Spazzatura in the upcoming adaptation of “Pinocchio” directed by Guillermo del Toro.
Lady Lesso (Charlize Theron)
Lady Lesso, Dean of the School for Evil and Professor Dovey’s counterpart, reslishes in any form of chaos. She guides Sophie, or attempts to, in her adjustment to the School for Evil. Charlize Theron kicks ass in several action films like “Mad Max: Fury Road” as Imperator Furiosa” and “Atomic Blonde” (2017), and “The Old Guard” as Andy (2020). She also portrayed Megyn Kelly in “Bombshell” (2019) as well as Marlo in “Tully” (2018) and Ravenna in “Snow White and the Huntsman” (2012). She recently entered the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Clea in “Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness” (2022), and won an Oscar for her portrayal of Aileen Wuornos in 2003’s “Monster.”
Professor Dovey (Kerry Washington)
Professor Dovey, Dean for the School of Good, recognizes great potential in Agatha. She guides future heroes — princes and princesses — to their storied successes. Kerry Washington is best known for her role as Olivia Pope in “Scandal” from 2012 to 2018. She has also portrayed Chenille in “Save the Last Dance” (2001), Della Bea Robinson in “Ray” (2004) and Broomhilda Von Shaft in “Django Unchained” (2012). She played Kendra in “American Son” (2019) and Mrs. Greene in “The Prom” (2020). More recently in the television world, she starred opposite Reese Witherspoon in the book to screen adaptation of Celeste Ng’s novel “Little Fires Everywhere” as Mia Warren.
Professor Anemone (Michelle Yeoh)
Professor Anemone teaches Beautification class in The School for Good. Michelle Yeoh has recently gained renewed attention for her role in A24’s “Everything Everywhere All At Once” (2022), but she was taking names even before that, though, with her roles as Wai Lin in “Tomorrow Never Dies” (1997) and Yu Shu Lien in “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” (2000). She also more recently portrayed Emperor Phillipa Georgiou in “Star Trek Discovery” as well as mother Eleanor Young in the film adaptation of Kevin Kwan’s “Crazy Rich Asians” (2018). Yeoh has also voiced several characters like Yuki in “Paws of Fury: The Legend of Hank” (2022) and Master Chow in “Minions: The Rise of Gru” (2022). She has appeared twice in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Aleta Ogord in “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2” (2017) and Ying Nan in “Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings” (2021). She will also appear as Dr. Karina Mogue in the next slew of “Avatar” movies from James Cameron.
The School Master (Laurence Fishburne)
The School Master is responsible for kidnapping future heroes and villains for their future in fairytales. He used to have a twin brother — the two of them setting precedent for the balance between good and evil souls. Laurence Fishburne is best known for his portrayal of Morpheus in “The Matrix” films. He also portrayed Whitney Powers in “Mystic River” (2003) and Dr. Ellis Cheever in “Contagion” (2011). Fishburne plays Bowery King in the “John Wick” films, and he also made his Marvel Cinematic Universe appearance as Dr. Bill Foster in “Ant-Man and the Wasp” 2018). He played Dr. Larabee in “Akeelah and the Bee” (2006) alongside young Keke Palmer, and he also narrated Netflix’s spoof comedy special “Death to 2020.”
Tedros (Jamie Flatters)
Tedros is the hottest prince among the new recruits in the School for Good, and Sophie immediately has eyes for him, but her placement in Evil complicates things. Jamie Flatters got his start on the show “So Awkward” as Matt Furnosh, moving to “Liar” in the role of Luke Earlham. He more recently portrayed Owen in the TV mini series “Close to Me.”
Rafal/Rhian (Kit Young)
Kit Young portrays the younger twin set of School Masters — Rafal (the evil one) and Rhian (the good one who now runs the school solo). Young takes on yet another fantastical role in this film after portraying Jesper Fahey in Netflix’s tv show adaptation fo Leigh Bardugo’s “Shadow and Bone” book series.
Mrs. Deauville (Patti LuPone)
Mrs. Deauville runs the bookshop where Sophie buys all the fairytale tomes she voraciously reads. It is also Mrs. Deauville who reveals the existence of the School for Good and Evil, unfolding the lore behind the Schoolmaster’s kidnappings that recruits new students to the ranks of magical education.
