Are you ready for the next Hunger Games? Actually, considering that there has only been one Hunger Games movie released so far, that may be a premature question, but that isn’t stopping Lionsgate from throwing its YA hat into the ring by adapting Veronica Roth’s solid, but less publicized novel series starting with the first book Divergent. (The follow up book is entitled Insurgent, with the third and final due this fall, entitled Allegiant.)
Like The Hunger Games, Divergent and its follow-ups are set in a dystopian future, but unlike HG, the Divergent characters inhabit a run-down but still recognizable Chicago. (The film was mostly filmed on location there.) In this world, society has been divided up into five castes; Abnegation (the selfless), Erudite (the intelligent), Candor (the honest), Amity (the peaceful) and Dauntless (the brave). When teenagers come of age, they choose which order they will become part of, however, that is mostly a formality as most opt to remain in the order in which they were raised. But Beatrice “Tris” Prior doesn’t feel connected to her natural faction, Abnegation and confident that her brother will remain in that order to stay with their family, she startles everyone by choosing Dauntless. Things don’t quite work out, though, as her brother Caleb also decides to switch groups and goes to Erudite.
It turns out that Tris is “Divergent,” possessing the aptitude to function as a member of different factions… but that turns out to be a dangerous thing. The first book focuses on her training as a Dauntless, but things aren’t easy for her as an outsider who hasn’t spent her upbringing training in security the way her new peers have.
Tris is played by Shailene Woodley, who received acclaim for her role in The Descendents alongside George Clooney. Love interest Four is portrayed by “Downton Abbey”‘s hunky Theo James. The cast is rounded out by Zoe Kravitz as Tris’ friend Christina, Tony Goldwyn and Ashley Judd as Tris and Caleb’s parents and Kate Winslet as Jeanine Matthews the leader of the Erudite.
The film isn’t due out until March 21st, 2014, but we have some new images from the film below:
What do you think? Are you a fan of the books? Are you excited for the live action movie? Comment below!
