Veronica Roth, the author behind the popular book series “Divergent”, recently discussed the film adaptation and the fourth installment that never made it to the big screen. In a revealing interview, Roth admitted that she was surprisingly at peace with the decision to scrap the final movie in The Divergent Series. Lionsgate had initially intended to split Roth’s third book into two films, titling the grand finale “Ascendent”. However, this ambitious plan was ultimately abandoned, leaving fans without a conclusive ending.
Roth explained that the decision to split the third book in two was a popular trend at the time, but she had always felt a sense of peace regarding this change. She acknowledged the fact that the movies had already taken a different direction from the books, emphasizing that altering the lead-up to the finale would ultimately impact the ending. Roth stated, “So I kind of felt like at that point… I feel like that third movie, I don’t know, there’s a lot we could talk about with it. But it’s its own thing.”
From Page to Screen
The “Divergent” film series began in 2014 with the release of the first movie, based on Roth’s 2011 novel. The star-studded cast included Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ashley Judd, Jai Courtney, Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Tony Goldwyn, Maggie Q, and Kate Winslet. The franchise continued with a sequel in 2015, titled “Insurgent”, based on Roth’s second book. It was Roth’s final book, “Allegiant”, that was intended to be split into two films. The first part, released in 2016, shared the name of the third novel in the series. However, plans for the concluding film, “Ascendent”, were ultimately scrapped.
Despite the lack of a proper ending, Roth expressed that she feels the saga has reached a relatively complete state. She questioned the meaning of completeness in this context, suggesting that the story had already traversed its own journey. Roth stated, “It feels complete to me, relatively speaking, because what does that even mean at that point?”
Decisions and Adjustments
Roth also addressed the decision to split her last book into two films. She shared her belief that for such a decision to make sense, the book itself must be extensive. She implied that substantial content and narrative depth are required for a successful split. Ultimately, these efforts to conclude the series with a television adaptation at Starz did not come to fruition, leaving fans yearning for a satisfying resolution that never materialized.
Veronica Roth has come to terms with the decision to abandon the final installment of The Divergent Series. Despite the incomplete ending, Roth feels that the saga has reached a sense of completion in its own right. The divergent paths taken between the books and the films have shaped unique narratives, capturing the essence of the beloved series in different ways. It remains to be seen if future adaptations will explore the uncharted territory left by the scrapped finale, or if fans will need to find solace in the perceived completeness of the existing story.
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