Chbosky, Tremblay, Tao Hong and children holding the helmet with wishes. [Photo provided to China Daily]

Beyond the original book, Chbosky added many scenes to the film depicting close family ties, not just to allow Roberts to showcase her acting talent, but also to create a rich viewing experience for families.

It is the first time that the 12-year-old actor has taken on such a challenging role, and it took makeup artists 90 minutes to apply the elements used to recreate the facial condition. The actor also undertook extensive research online, visited real children with similar conditions and invited them to write to him, in order to understand the role better.

In the film, Auggie wears an astronaut's helmet to hide his imperfections. It demonstrates his desire for self-protection, and his need to maintain emotional barriers while keeping a safe distance from others. But it also shows his infinite yearning to join the outside world.

The "helmet" also made an appearance at a Beijing premiere on Jan 14, where Chbosky and Tremblay wrote down messages of hope on cards for the children attending it.

"Warm the world with kindness," one card reads.

"We all are different and want to be treated with kindness," says another.