Shailene Woodley to Star in Ultramarathon Thriller "Ultra"

In 2025, acclaimed actress Shailene Woodley is set to take on a new challenge as the lead in the psychological thriller "Ultra." The film, written and directed by Victoria Negri, follows Woodley's character Eve as she enters the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon, a grueling 135-mile race through Death Valley where temperatures can reach 54°C.

Negri, who has personal experience as an ultramarathon runner, drew inspiration from her own emotional and physical journey for the film. After the tragic death of her twin sister, Eve finds herself pursuing the intense athletic endeavor as a way to process her grief. However, as she pushes her limits through the unforgiving desert, she is pursued by an unknown runner, leading to a harrowing confrontation with her own darkest demons.

"Tragic circumstances, for better or worse, are transformative, and 'Ultra' is a film born from that experience," said Negri. "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."