The Divergent film universe launched successfully earlier this year, overcoming mixed reviews to score with audiences. The second entry, Insurgent is preparing to shoot, and will now boast the Oscar-winning thespian talents of Octavia Spencer{
Spencer, who scored her award for The Help, is joining the cast as Johanna, the leader of the Amity faction who's struggling to keep her people together as the world faces big changes in the wake of the events of the first film.
Shailene Woodley is back as the rebellious, “divergent” heroine Tris Prior, with Theo James returning as Four, Kate Winslet as the scheming Jeanine, Miles Teller as Peter, Mekhi Phifer as Max and Ben Lamb as Edward.
**RED **director Robert Schwentke is taking over directorial duties from Neil Burger, with Brian Duffield and Akiva Goldsman adapting Veronica Roth’s second novel. The plan is for Roth’s third, controversial novel, Allegiant, to follow across two films in 2016 and 2017.
As for Spencer, she appears in Snowpiercer, which is set for US release next month, but has yet to secure a UK date. The actress is also part of the cast for James Brown biopic** Get On Up** (out September 26), DreamWorks’ ghost ‘toon B.O.O.: Bureau Of Otherworldly Operations (due July 17, 2015) and has just joined Leslie Mann in bounty hunting comedy Las Madres.