Set to ignite the screen with her captivating presence, Shailene Woodley is poised to star in the upcoming psychological thriller, "Ultra," a visceral journey penned and directed by Victoria Negri (known for "Gold Star" and "Personal Best"). The actress, whose versatility has been showcased in "Divergent" and the Emmy-nominated series "Big Little Lies," will portray Eve, an ultramarathon runner whose world is shattered by the tragic loss of her twin sister. Embarking on the most grueling competition on earth—the 135-mile Badwater 135 Ultramarathon through Death Valley—Eve faces not only the physical exhaustion of the race but also the psychological trauma of her loss.
As she runs, Eve becomes increasingly aware of an unknown runner in white closing in on her. Negri, drawing from her own experiences as a long-distance runner and the director of the ultramarathon documentary short "Personal Best," brings this intense personal journey to life. "My father was a distance runner who was left paralyzed by a stroke," Negri shares. "Running, which had given him life, was taken away from him. Through completing two 100-mile races, numerous 50-milers, and many marathons, I've learned to process loss. Running has become my emotional outlet—a physical pain that mirrors the emotional. Although my grief is always present, I've discovered my strength and resilience. I wrote 'Ultra' from this intense personal journey, using running as a cinematic vehicle to depict the ways in which we process grief."
Mister Smith Entertainment will handle international sales for the project and will be presenting "Ultra" to buyers at the American Film Market in Los Angeles next week. WME Independent will handle US sales. The film is produced by 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").
Woodley, whose range of roles has captured audiences' hearts in the "Divergent" franchise, the John Green adaptation "The Fault in Our Stars," and most recently in Potsy Poncirol's wordless action-thriller "Motor City," alongside Alan Ritchson, Ben Foster, and Pablo Schreiber, is represented by CAA, Range Media Partners, and Shelter PR. Victoria Negri is represented by Entertainment 360.
