The final installment of author Veronica Roth's "Divergent" novel trilogy will be split into two films.
"Allegiant" will be released on March 18, 2016 while Allegiant Part 2 will hit theaters on March 24, 2017, according to Deadline. The trilogy's film adaptation was originally set for three films, but Lionsgate/Summit decided to break up the last film off the heels of the "Divergent" box office success.
"Veronica Roth brings her captivating story to a masterful conclusion in Allegiant, a rich, action-packed book with material that is ideally suited to two strong and fulfilling movies," Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger said in a statment. "The storytelling arc and world of the characters lend themselves perfectly to two films, a storytelling strategy that has worked very well for us on the two Twilight Breaking Dawn films and about which we're tremendously enthusiastic for the two upcoming Mockingjay films of The Hunger Games franchise."
According to Deadline, "Divergent" grossed a total of $139M worldwide in three weeks of release. The film stars Shailene Woodley as Beatrice "Tris" Prior, Theo James as Four and Kate Winslet as Erudite leader Jeanine Matthews. For those unfamiliar with the "Divergent" story line, check out the film synopsis and the film's official trailer below:
" 'Divergent' is a thrilling action-adventure film set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet) to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it's too late. Based on the best-selling book series by Veronica Roth."
