Copyright Variety
Shailene Woodley (“Divergent,” “Big Little Lies,” “Three Women”) is donning her running shoes for the upcoming ultramarathon-set psychological thriller “Ultra.” The film is being written and directed by Victoria Negri (“Gold Star,” “Personal Best”), with producers including Allison Rose Carter and Jon Read for Savage Rose Films (“Everything Everywhere All at Once,” “American Honey”) and Iris Torres (“In Dubious Battle”). Executive producers are Andrew Kortschak and Lisa Ciuffetti for End Cue (“The History Of Sound”), and Toby Halbrooks for Sailor Bear (“The Green Knight,” “A Ghost Story”). Mister Smith Entertainment is onboard for international sales and will launch the film to buyers at the 2025 AFM. WME Independent will handle U.S. sales. “Ultra” sees Negri drew from her personal experience as a long-distance runner and as the director of ultramarathon documentary short “Personal Best.” The story follows Eve (Woodley) who, following the tragic death of her twin sister, enters into the most intense athletic endeavour on the planet: the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon, a 135-mile race through Death Valley, where temperatures reach 54°C. As she takes on the unforgiving elements and intense physical and psychological strain of the race, Eve finds herself pursued by an unknown runner in white, consistently closing the gap between them as they surge through the desert. Trying to outrun the ominous presence, she will face the darkest parts of herself and uncover what she is made of. “Tragic circumstances, for better or worse, are transformative, and ‘Ultra’ is a film born from that experience,” said Negri. “My father was a distance runner, left paralyzed by a stroke. Running, the thing that gave him life, was taken from him. He suffered, and finally succumbed. While finding my emotional footing, I grew to become an ultrarunner, since completing two 100-mile races, numerous 50 milers and many marathons. It’s through testing my limits in each of these epic races that I process loss — physical pain being the greatest metaphor for the emotional. Although my grief is always with me, I’ve learned I’m strong enough to handle it, to handle anything.” Negri said she wrote ‘Ultra from this “intense personal journey,” using running as the cinematic vehicle to depict the ways in which we process grief — whether we carry it with us by our side, or see it in the rearview mirror, we’re never able to outrun its lingering presence.” “Ultra” joins a growing slate of upcoming projects for Woodley. She is set to join the second season of Hulu’s political thriller “Paradise” in a recurring role, and was recently cast in Netflix thriller “Unabom,” about domestic terrorist Ted Kaczynski, as well as in “Count My Lies” for Hulu alongside Lindsay Lohan, for which she will also serve as an executive producer. Woodley is also confirmed to produce and portray Janis Joplin in the upcoming Janis Joplin biopic. Most recently, she starred alongside Alan Ritchson in the action-thriller “Motor City” from director Potsy Ponciroli, which premiered at both the Venice International Film Festival as well as the Toronto International Film Festival. Negri’s feature debut “Gold Star,” which she wrote, directed, produced and acted in, featured Robert Vaughn in his last on-screen performance. Her feature and shorts have premiered at Oscar qualifying film festivals including, Austin Film Festival, Cucalorus, Hollyshorts, Tallgrass and more. Woodley is represented by CAA, Range Media Partners and Shelter PR. Negri is represented by Entertainment 360.
