Shailene Woodley Feels ‘Vulnerable’ Singing for Janis Joplin Biopic (Exclusive)

One of Shailene Woodley‘s upcoming roles is bringing her into new territory.

The actress, 33, is set to star in and produce a Janis Joplin biopic, Janis Joplin: Get It While You Can, which will tell the life story of the iconic singer, who died at age 27 in 1970.

Preproduction continues on the project, which has been in development for years, and Woodley tells PEOPLE in an exclusive interview that she finds singing for the role is not the easiest task.

“Singing is very scary. It’s very vulnerable,” the Emmy, SAG and Golden Globe-nominated star admits.

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The Hollywood Reporter and Rolling Stone reported in September 2024 that the Joplin biopic was moving forward with the help of California’s tax credit.

“I have a feeling Janis would be smiling ear to ear, zipping down the PCH in her psychedelic Porsche knowing her story is bringing opportunities and funding to the city and people that held so much significance to her,” Woodley said in a statement regarding the film at that time.

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During an appearance on The Tonight Show months later, the Big Little Lies star spoke about the film, telling host Jimmy Fallon, “We’ve been working on it for seven years now, and it’s just — she’s such a groovy chick, man. She really brought the light to this planet in a really singular way.”

When Fallon asked Woodley whether the movie has access to clothes from Joplin’s era, she admitted, “We have the outfits. Everything.”

Woodley — who is working with Mars to raise awareness for pet adoption during Global Adoption Weekend — is currently working with Linda Perry on the Joplin-based feature.

The lead artist of 4 Non Blondes “is an incredible songwriter, singer and music producer, … and she and I have been working very closely for a few years now,” Woodley tells PEOPLE.

Actors who have previously been attached to Joplin biopics that never came to fruition prior to Woodley’s project include Amy Adams, Zooey Deschanel, Pink, Melissa Etheridge, Brittany Murphy and Renée Zellweger, per THR.

Janis Joplin: Get It While You Can does not yet have a release date.