Shailene Woodley and Joseph Gordon-Levitt reunite in new Prime Video movie Killer heatEight years after they shared the screen in the biographical film SnowdenFor Woodley, the noir film, which premieres Sept. 26 on the streaming service, fits the bill for the type of movie she wants to watch right now.
“I think the world is really responding to joy right now, or fun and adventure,” Woodley tells Yahoo Entertainment.
In an election year, that seems truer than ever. While the Internet debates whether celebrity endorsements matter, the co-stars agree that they have an “obligation” to use their platforms.
“I totally agree with the statement that 'hey, just because you're famous for this reason doesn't mean we should listen to your opinions on politics.' And that makes perfect sense,” Gordon-Levitt says.
“At the same time, in a democracy, I think everyone can and should express their opinion. And we shouldn't listen to someone just because they're famous, but if someone who's in a movie has something to say that you find interesting… then great,” she continues. “I feel like there's an opportunity and… I feel some obligation as someone who has this platform to express those points that make sense to me. And then whoever's listening can decide whether the points make sense or not.”
Woodley is on board with “everything,” her co-star said.
“I think the main point I want to make is that people shouldn't listen because we're in a movie… but because we're also human beings who care like every other human being in our country and in this world,” he explains.
“And I think if we have a platform, it's not like there's an exploitative nature to using it,” Woodley continues. “It's just what happens in this life. And with that, I think there's a responsibility to share your honest opinion without pressure and without judgment. That's what I hope for.”
In Killer heatWoodley's character hires a private detective (Gordon-Levitt) to investigate the alleged accidental death of her wealthy brother-in-law. It's the latest in a series of projects (The perfect couple, Blink twice) to focus on wealthy families, secrets, and the lengths people are willing to go to in order to maintain power or superiority. Woodley believes it's a topic people love to watch, especially now, because “it's just fun.”
“I want to watch things that don't leave me feeling sad or depressed afterwards. Right now, I enjoy watching things that are very entertaining and exciting, but also raise a little bit of a psychological question,” she says.
Gordon-Levitt adds: “There's a joy in traditional detective movies. There's a reason why, as long as we've been making movies, we've been telling these kinds of stories.”
Killer heat will premiere on Thursday, September 26 on Prime Video.