Shailene Woodley to Star in Janis Joplin Biopic, Issues Statement

The Divergent film series and Big Little Lies actress Shailene Woodley has been tapped to star in the Janis Joplin biopic.

The planned biopic, which is set to chronicle the life and legacy of American rock star Janis Joplin, will be receiving a $2.5 million fund from the California Film Commission.

Woodley will also produce the film in addition to starring.

What did Shailene Woodley say about the Janis Joplin biopic?

In a statement, Woodley shared that “California meant so much to Janis Joplin — from the stoops of San Francisco to the wooden walls of Sunset Sound, the state became the stage upon which she explored not just the world of music, but the world of her vibrant humanity.”

Apart from providing funds for the Janis Joplin biopic, the California Film Commission has also granted Suits L.A. a $12 million fund in order for the series to film in Los Angeles.

Woodley is best known for her roles in features like The Fault in Our Stars as Hazel Grace Lancaster and in The Divergent Series (Divergent, Insurgent, Allegiant) as Beatrice “Tris” Prior. Her other film credits include The Descendants, White Bird in a Blizzard, Snowden, Adrift, The Mauritanian, The Fallout, The Last Letter from Your Lover, To Catch a Killer, Robots, Ferrari, and Dumb Money.

On the television side, Woodley starred in Big Little Lies as Jane Chapman and Three Women as Gia Lombardi, to mention a few.

Meanwhile, Janis Joplin — regarded as one of the most popular and iconic rock stars of her era — is a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner, known for greatest hits like “Try (Just a Little Bit Harder),” “Get It While You Can,” “Move Over,” “Down on Me,” “Cry Baby,” “Kozmic Blues,” “Ball and Chain,” “Summertime,” “Piece of My Heart,” and “Me and Bobby McGee,” among others.

Other details about the biopic remain under wraps.

(Source: Variety)