Get ready for a heart-pounding journey into the depths of human resilience—Shailene Woodley is set to headline Ultra, a psychological thriller that blends extreme athleticism with a chilling pursuit. But here’s where it gets controversial: can a race through one of the harshest environments on Earth truly become a metaphor for confronting personal trauma? Let’s dive in.
Shailene Woodley, best known for her role in Divergent, has signed on to star in Ultra, a gripping film written and directed by Victoria Negri (Gold Star). Produced by Allison Rose Carter and Jon Read of Savage Rose Films—the minds behind Everything Everywhere All at Once—alongside Iris Torres (In Dubious Battle), the project boasts a powerhouse team. Executive producers include Andrew Kortschak and Lisa Ciuffetti from End Cue (The History Of Sound) and Toby Halbrooks of Sailor Bear (The Green Knight).
Mister Smith Entertainment will handle international sales, introducing the film to buyers at the 2025 AFM, while WME Independent manages U.S. distribution. But this is the part most people miss: Ultra isn’t just a thriller—it’s a deeply personal exploration of grief, endurance, and self-discovery.
The film follows Eve (Woodley) after the devastating loss of her twin sister. In a bid to process her grief, she enters the Badwater 135 Ultramarathon, a grueling 135-mile race through Death Valley, where temperatures soar to 129°F (54°C). As Eve battles the relentless desert heat and her own physical limits, she’s haunted by an unknown runner in white, who steadily closes in on her. Is this pursuer real, or a manifestation of her inner demons? Trying to outrun this ominous figure, Eve is forced to confront the darkest corners of her psyche and uncover her true strength.
Victoria Negri draws from her own life to craft this story, and it’s both inspiring and divisive. ‘Tragic circumstances, for better or worse, are transformative,’ Negri explains. ‘My father, a distance runner, was paralyzed by a stroke, and the thing that gave him life was taken away. His suffering and eventual passing led me to ultrarunning as a way to process loss. Physical pain became the greatest metaphor for emotional anguish.’ Having completed two 100-mile races, numerous 50-milers, and marathons, Negri’s personal journey fuels Ultra’s raw intensity.
Negri describes the film as a ‘visceral descent into inner turmoil,’ as Eve grapples with her sister’s death during the world’s most unforgiving footrace. But here’s the question: Can extreme physical challenges truly heal emotional wounds, or do they merely mask the pain? Is Eve’s pursuit of the finish line a triumph of resilience, or a dangerous escape from reality?
Ultra promises to be a gripping exploration of the human spirit, but it also invites debate. What do you think? Is ultrarunning a healthy way to confront grief, or does it risk glorifying self-destruction? Share your thoughts in the comments—this is one conversation you won’t want to miss.
