After getting nominated for a Golden Globe for her performance in The Descendants, it was only a matter of time before Shailene Woodley became known as someone other than Amy Juergens on ABC Family. With some other roles lined up, the Secret Life star has been cast in White Bird — the latest from Mysterious Skin writer/director Gregg Araki.
The indie drama will be from the point of view of Woodley‘s character, “a troubled young woman whose life is upended following the mysterious disappearance of her mother.” Araki will be producing the project, with his go-to-collaborators Pascal Caucheteux and Sebastien Lemercier of Why Not Productions. Although the main character is cast, the roles of her parents, as well as the lead detective of the case, are still up for grabs.
I’m a little surprised at the casting of Woodley for a Araki project. For those unfamiliar with his work — which includes the Anna Faris-led comedy Smiley Face, the cult classic The Doom Generation and most recently Kaboom — he’s usually known for making eccentric movies that can sometimes frighten (If you’ve seen Mysterious Skin, you’ll know what I’m talking about). Although she did a fantastic job in The Descendants, I’m still having a hard time taking her serious as an actress — blame The Secret Life. Then again, Joseph Gordon-Levitt (who starred in Skin) was also known for his chipper/geeky roles before hitting the indie scene, so this could be a perfect opportunity for Woodley to add some credibility.
Do you think Woodley is a good candidate for a Araki movie?