Lily Gladstone Reveals She Didn’t Want To Join Cast Of Hulu’s Gripping True Crime Drama, “Under the Bridge”
When Lily Gladstone and Riley Keough first sat down with the creators of Hulu’s latest true crime series, Under the Bridge, they were immediately captivated by its unique approach to storytelling.
Speaking to PEOPLE, Riley, 34, shared her excitement about the project. “I had a meeting with Quinn [Shephard] and Samir [Mehta], who created and produced the show. That conversation really excited me. They were really open to exploring and having conversations that I haven’t really seen had in this kind of a genre before, and exploring themes like empathy and compassion and forgiveness within a true crime genre,” she stated.
Lily, 37, initially hesitated to join the cast, but Riley’s involvement as both an actress and producer changed her mind.
As she shared, “Initially, knowing that it was true crime, I kind of leaned away from it having just made Killers of the Flower Moon.”
“But then learning that Riley was attached, not just to act in it, but as a producer, that made me lean back in. Because I’ve been wanting to work with her forever. And I’ve wanted to work with her forever because she has those difficult conversations and she’s such a compassionate person. She leverages her position in this world in a way not many people do, and I really respect that,” she added.
The series, which delves into the tragic murder of teenager Reena Virk, adopts a multi-perspective narrative, offering insights from various characters including a journalist (played by Riley) and a policewoman (Lily).
Riley emphasizes the importance of portraying the story authentically, drawing from the memoir written by Reena’s father. For her, the storyline resonated deeply, especially considering her close relationship with her 15-year-old twin sisters. “I have sisters that are the same age that I’m very, very close to, so it totally hits close to home in that regard,” she shared.
Despite the heavy subject matter, Riley and Lily found solace in each other’s company during filming. “It certainly helped that Lily’s the kindest, most gentle, sweetest soul, so she’s very easy to work with when you have scenes that are heavy,” Riley reflects.
Their friendship, which began on social media in 2018, blossomed on set, providing mutual support during challenging moments. “
“And I just love watching actors so much, and it’s just such a joy, and when you’re a fan of someone and then you get to work with them and watch them perform, it’s just like…. Even if the material is heavy, it’s such a beautiful thing to experience it when you perform with someone that you’re a fan of,” Riley added.
