We're still waiting for the release of Divergent, the first instalment of Lionsgate's new young adult series, but the confident studio is already at work on the sequel. Insurgent is currently without a director, since Divergent's Neil Burger isn't returning, but the follow-up has at least now scored a heavyweight screenwriter. Akiva Goldsman will be taking over the adaptation of the Veronica Roth novel{
Divergent is set in a society where people are divided into social factions based on their personalities, part of a drive to end years of civil strife and war that has wracked a future America. The divergent (do you see?) nature of Shailene Woodley's Tris, however, makes her dangerous. Joining the Dauntless (courageous) faction, she begins planning the downfall of stern figurehead Jeanine Matthews (Kate Winslet).
Part two, in book form at least, deepens the romantic connection between Tris and the mysterious Four (Theo James), and sees the various factions at war with each other.
Evan Daugherty and Vanessa Taylor wrote the **Divergent **screenplay, and Insurgent's first draft was handed in by Brian Duffield. Lionsgate, however, has now entrusted it to Goldsman as a safe pair of hands to complete the adaptation process.
Goldsman previously won the Best Adapted Screenplay Oscar for A Beautiful Mind (as well as cranking out The Da Vinci Code, Angels & Demons, I, Robot, I Am Legend, Cinderella Man and various episodes of Fringe) so you can see their thinking. He also wrote Batman Forever and Batman & Robin, but we don't talk about that. His directorial debut, Winter's Tale, is due out next month.
Divergent is out in the UK on April 4, with Insurgent already set to follow in March, 2015, and threequel **Allegiant **potentially due in 2016.
brightcove.createExperiences();