The Divergent film series was another addition into the library of book-to-film adaptations hoping to capitalize on the trend after powerhouses Harry Potter and Twilight had wrapped up. Unfortunately for fans, the film’s sluggish box office sales and poor critical response meant a premature death after the third installment, Allegiant, that left the film series unfinished. Uncertainty abounded over how, if at all, the series would be wrapped up, as a final film was critically and financially out of the question.
The answer to the dilemma is apparently coming from Starz, who has reportedly picked up the rights to the final chapter in the series, Ascendant, to be developed into a television series. Reportedly attached to the project are writer Adam Cozad (Tarzan) who will pen the script, as well as executive produce alongside Lee Toland Krieger (Age of Adaline). Both were already attached to the original Ascendant project until its scrapping.
Whether or not actor Shailene Woodley, who starred as the series protagonist Beatrice “Tris” Prior, is interested in reprising the role for the television adaptation remains to be seen. Woodley reportedly was disinterested in doing a television film adaptation of Ascendant, but is reportedly open to continuing the story in a series, claiming “Nothing would make me happier,” in regards to finishing Tris’s story. Costars Theo James and Ansel Elgort have yet to comment, although many of the stars are expected to opt out.
The Divergent series takes place in a dystopian futuristic version of Chicago where society is divided into five competing factions encompassing different human virtues, governed by the Abnegation (the selfless). Children test into which factions best suit them, although they have the opportunity to choose which one to align themselves with. Beatrice Prior is determined through testing to be a rare Divergent, a person who encompasses traits from every faction, and therefore cannot be controlled by the government. Beatrice, or “Tris” as she begins to go by, learns that the so-called “perfect society” she had grown up in is anything but, and something sinister lurks beneath its ordered surface.
Ascendant is still in early production, so expect more info and updates out soon.
