As previously reported, Lionsgate have so much confidence in their adaptation of Veronica Roth's Divergent that they're storming ahead with work on the sequel before the original has even been released. Akiva Goldsman came aboard to write Insurgent last week, and with Neil Burger unavailable to return due to scheduling conflicts, the just-announced director will be Red and RIPD's Robert Schwentke.
Divergent is set in a society where people are divided into social factions based on their personalities, part of a drive to end years of civil strife and war that has wracked a future America. The divergent (do you see?) nature of Shailene Woodley's Tris, however, makes her dangerous. Joining the Dauntless (courageous) faction, she begins planning the downfall of stern figurehead Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet).
Part two, in book form at least, deepens the romantic connection between Tris and the mysterious Four (Theo James), and sees the factions at war with one another.
“Robert, with whom we have already had a successful relationship, has proven a master storyteller in multiple genres and we can't wait to see what he brings to Veronica Roth's next installment of the Divergent series," said Lionsgate's president of production Erik Feig. He also announced two new exec producers in Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman (Warm Bodies, The Muppets).
Divergent is out in the UK on April 4, with Insurgent already set to follow in March 2015, and threequel **Allegiant **potentially following in 2016.