Lionsgate may have finished its Hunger Games franchise (for now), but at least it still had Divergent. The problem is that the film series has suffered a few more hang-ups. Neil Burger helmed the first installment and Robert Schwentke helmed the following two. The plan was for him to return for the finale, subtitled Ascendant, but he dropped out. According to The Hollywood Reporter, he did so because he needed a break and wanted to spend more time with his family, but the trade also reports that the studio has already found his replacement.

Lee Toland Krieger, who recently helmed The Age of Adeline, is in talks to direct The Divergent Series: Ascendant. The film is scheduled to shoot this summer in Atlanta, Georgia, ahead of its release date on June 9, 2017. Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Naomi Watts, and Jeff Daniels are expected to return. This will mark Krieger’s first big action-heavy blockbuster, given his previous credits Celeste & Jesse Forever, The Vicious Kind, and December Ends.

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Image via Summit/Lionsgate

Meanwhile, we still have to make it through Allegiant, which is set to hit theaters on March 18. Upon leaving the borders of Chicago, Team Tris discovers a group of people, led by Daniels’ David, who engineered these isolated cities. As teased in the trailer, Tris is the only one who passed their tests, forcing these people to conclude that those who remain in Chicago are not worth saving.


In the tradition of films like Harry Potter, Twilight, and The Hunger Games, Lionsgate split the final installment into two parts and named part two Ascendant. The first two Divergent films have grossed more than $586 million worldwide, and we’ll see if interest is still piqued.

Here’s the official plot synopsis for Insurgent:

After the earth-shattering revelations of INSURGENT, Tris must escape with Four and go beyond the wall enclosing Chicago. For the first time ever, they will leave the only city and family they have ever known in order to find a peaceful solution for their embroiled city. Once outside, old discoveries are quickly rendered meaningless with the revelation of shocking new truths. Tris and Four must quickly decide who they can trust as a ruthless battle ignites beyond the walls of Chicago which threatens all of humanity. In order to survive, Tris will be forced to make impossible choices about courage, allegiance, sacrifice and love.

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Image via Lionsgate

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