Back in September, we learned that the ‘Divergent’ films would be following the precedent set by other young adult series that made the jump to the big screen. Like ‘Harry Potter’, ‘Twilight’, and ‘The Hunger Games’ before it, we will see the final novel in Veronica Roth’s trilogy split into two parts. However, once we get to the grand finale titled ‘The Divergent Series: Ascendant’, we will have made it there without one integral person behind the scenes.
When Neil Burger stepped away from the franchise after directing the first film, Robert Schwentke took up the helm for the sequel. The ‘Red’ and ‘R.I.P.D.’ filmmaker was also meant to stay on for the final two movies as well, but that no longer appears to be the case. According to Deadline, after he worked on ‘Insurgent’ and ‘Allegiant’ back to back, Schwentke has dropped out of directing next year’s ‘Ascendant’. With a March 2017 release already on the books, Lionsgate will have to scramble to find a replacement to meet that date. However, there is reportedly no bad blood between the director and the studio. It is said that he is still in good standing with them because, as many would be, he was simply worn out after the last two films and in need of a break.
With shooting for Tris Prior’s last adventure set to commence this summer in Atlanta, there’s not much time for Lionsgate to get a new person to fill the vacant director’s chair. While there’s currently no shortlist for the replacement, it’s likely that we’ll hear an update on that situation soon. That is, unless the studio decides to push ‘Ascendant’ back, in which case the production may encounter a whole other set of problems.
Are you disappointed that Robert Schwentke had to drop out of ‘The Divergent Series: Ascendant’? Who do you think would be a good fit to replace him? Share your thoughts and theories in the comments below.
‘The Divergent Series: Allegiant’ starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Zoe Kravitz, Ansel Elgort, Octavia Spencer, Jeff Daniels, Ray Stevenson, Maggie Q, Mekhi Phifer, Daniel Dae Kim, and Naomi Watts hits theaters on March 18, 2016, followed by ‘The Divergent Series: Ascendant’ on March 24, 2017.
