Hulu’s true crime miniseries Under the Bridge explores the life and death of Reena Virk, a case that shook British Columbia to its core in 1997. The show dramatizes the murder and the case that follows, but it is based on Rebecca Godfrey’s book of the same name that chronicled the true events. In order to shed light on Reena herself, however, showrunners Quinn Shephard and Samir Mehta also incorporated details from Manjit Virk’s book, Reena: A Father’s Story.
Under the Bridge also introduces new characters to explore the wide-ranging implications of Reena’s case, most notably Officer Cam Bentland (played by Lily Gladstone). Though fictional, her position as an Indigenous woman working on the face allows the series to address racial injustice and the failings of the justice system. Her relationship with writer Rebecca Godfrey (Riley Keough), who serves as the audience’s way into the story, also ties the various threads of the investigation together.
Screen Rant interviewed Shephard and Mehta about the approach they used to adapt Under The Bridge, and why Reena’s father was an important part of telling her story. The showrunners also discussed young Gupta’s stellar performance and what Gladstone and Keough’s characters added to the series.
Screen Rant: Quinn, can you talk about your approach to adapting Rebecca’s book? I especially love the smooth transitions between flashbacks and the present-day investigation.
Samir, can you talk about what you pulled from outside of just the book? Did you look at Manjit’s book as well or get to speak to real people involved? What methods did you use to really honor Reena?
Lily and Riley are both incredible in this. What was it like for you both getting to flesh out Rebecca’s perspective as a character in the story and her dynamic with Cam?
Vritika Gupta is so lovely as Reena. Can you talk about casting her and how her performance really helps to ensure Rena herself is not forgotten?
Under the Bridge is based on acclaimed author Rebecca Godfrey’s book about the 1997 true story of fourteen-year-old Reena Virk (Vritika Gupta) who went to join friends at a party and never returned home. Through the eyes of Godfrey (Riley Keough) and a local police officer (Lily Gladstone), the series takes us into the hidden world of the young girls accused of the murder — revealing startling truths about the unlikely killer.
Check out our other Under The Bridge interviews with:
Source: Screen Rant Plus