Shailene Woodley was hesitant to take on the lead role of "Divergent," but Jennifer Lawrence wasn't going to let her turn down the part.
Woodley told The Hollywood Reporter it was an email conversation she had with the face of the "Hunger Games" franchise that convinced her it was the right move for her career.
"Having come off a TV show, I was kind of in the place where I was like, 'I'm never signing a contract for more than one movie,' because once you do sign a contract, legally, you're liable," she explained to THR. "[Even] if you don't find something creatively stimulating anymore, you've still got to do it legally."
The TV series that Woodley was referring to is the show that launched her career, "Secret Life Of An American Teenager." Woodley played a teenager who became pregnant in high school and had to juggle being the responsibilities of a being a mother while trying to complete her studies. "Secret Life" became increasingly melodramatic and the topic of sex was constantly being talked about on the show.
Lionsgate was fully aware of Woodley's hesitation to the commitment, so they enlisted the help of Lawrence, who admitted to watching "Secret Life," to try and convince Woodley to take on the role, according to THR.
Woodley told THR Lawrence gave her the following advice: "You must do it. You will not regret it for a second. Yes, there are some hard things, but there are so many beautiful things that will come from an opportunity like this."
Rob Friedman, co-chair of Lionsgate's motion picture group, told THR Woodley was the right choice to play Tris Prior in the upcoming "Divergent" film.
"Anybody in this business who says they're not nervous [about their lead casting choice] is taking some medication that I should find out about," Friedman said. "But once we met her and saw her presence and the way she carried herself and knowledge for the material and her passion for the character, we were sold."
"Divergent" will be released to theaters on March 21.
