The Divergent movie series ends prematurely and unsatisfactorily with no conclusive resolution, as the planned final film, Ascendant, was cancelled before production began, leaving the story incomplete and fans disappointed. The adaptation of Veronica Roth’s dystopian YA trilogy concluded after only three films, abandoning the planned cinematic conclusion to the series.
The Unfinished Chapter: Why Ascendant Never Happened
The Divergent film franchise initially showed promise, capturing the attention of young adult audiences eager for another dystopian adventure in the wake of The Hunger Games. However, after the release of Allegiant (Part 1), box office returns and critical reception declined sharply, leading to the studio’s decision to scrap the planned theatrical release of Ascendant and pivot towards a television movie/series. This plan, too, eventually fell through, leaving the Divergent movie series permanently unfinished.
The Downward Spiral: Declining Box Office and Critical Reception
The first film, Divergent, performed moderately well at the box office, grossing nearly $300 million worldwide. However, subsequent films, Insurgent and Allegiant, experienced diminishing returns. Allegiant was the lowest-grossing film in the series, earning significantly less than its predecessors. This financial decline, coupled with increasingly negative reviews from critics who criticized the films’ adherence to the source material and perceived creative missteps, prompted Lionsgate to reconsider its approach to the final installment.
The Television Movie Pivot (That Failed)
Faced with dwindling box office prospects, Lionsgate explored the possibility of concluding the Divergent story with a television movie, followed by a potential spin-off series. This shift was intended to provide a more cost-effective way to wrap up the narrative and potentially reignite interest in the franchise. However, key cast members, including Shailene Woodley, who played the protagonist Tris Prior, expressed reluctance to participate in a television project, citing a lack of artistic fulfillment. Ultimately, the television movie/series plan was abandoned, leaving the Divergent movie series officially unfinished.
What Ascendant Was Supposed To Be: Plot Points and Resolutions
While the movie adaptation never reached its intended conclusion, we can glean insights into what Ascendant would have entailed by examining the book it was based on. The book Allegiant (which the movie Allegiant only covered the first half of) details some very important plot points that were missed in the films that would have been covered in Ascendant.
The Truth Beyond the Wall
In the book Allegiant, Tris, Four, and their companions ventured beyond the wall surrounding Chicago, discovering a seemingly advanced society involved in social engineering experiments. This society, the Bureau of Genetic Welfare, had created the faction system in Chicago to study divergent individuals, whom they believed held the key to correcting genetic damage. Ascendant would have delved deeper into the Bureau’s motivations and the unsettling implications of their experiments.
Tris’s Sacrifice and the Aftermath
The most significant plot point in Allegiant is Tris’s tragic death. She sacrifices herself to disperse the memory serum, which would erase the memories of everyone in the Bureau. Although controversial among fans, Tris’s death is a pivotal moment in the book, meant to symbolize the ultimate act of selflessness and the breaking of the cycle of violence and manipulation. Ascendant would have shown the emotional fallout of Tris’s death on Four and the other characters, as well as the reorganization of society within Chicago after the Bureau’s influence was removed.
Alterations and Potential Changes
Had Ascendant been produced, it’s highly likely that significant alterations would have been made to the source material, as was the case with previous films in the series. While the core plot points surrounding the Bureau and the genetic experiments might have remained, the film could have potentially deviated from the book’s ending, perhaps even altering Tris’s fate to appease audiences. The uncertainty surrounding these potential changes is part of what makes the cancellation of Ascendant so frustrating for fans of the series.
FAQs: Delving Deeper into the Divergent Movie Series’s End
Here are some frequently asked questions about the Divergent movie series and its abrupt end:
Q1: Why was the Ascendant movie cancelled?
The Ascendant movie was cancelled primarily due to declining box office returns and negative critical reception for the previous film, Allegiant. Lionsgate deemed the project financially unviable for a theatrical release.
Q2: Was the cast of the Divergent movies aware of the cancellation before it was announced?
It’s likely that the cast was aware of the studio’s concerns and the possibility of changes to the original plans. However, the official announcement of the cancellation and the shift towards a television movie/series likely came as a surprise.
Q3: Could the Ascendant movie still be made in the future?
While technically possible, it is highly unlikely that the Ascendant movie will ever be made. The cast has moved on to other projects, and the buzz around the Divergent franchise has largely faded. A reboot or reimagining of the series in the future is more probable than the revival of the original film adaptation.
Q4: How did Veronica Roth, the author of the Divergent books, react to the movie’s cancellation?
Veronica Roth expressed disappointment and frustration with the cancellation of Ascendant. While she acknowledged the challenges of adapting a book series to film, she also lamented the missed opportunity to bring the story to a satisfying conclusion on the big screen.
Q5: What happened to the planned Divergent TV series?
The planned Divergent TV series, intended as a continuation of the film adaptation, was ultimately scrapped due to casting challenges (particularly with Shailene Woodley’s reluctance to participate) and creative disagreements. The project never made it past the development stage.
Q6: How does the book Allegiant end differently from the movie Allegiant?
The Allegiant movie only covers the first half of the Allegiant book. The book involves Tris’s death and the dispersal of a memory serum by the Bureau. The movie ends before these events, leaving Tris alive and the Bureau’s actions unexplored.
Q7: What were some of the major criticisms of the Divergent movies?
Major criticisms of the Divergent movies included deviations from the source material, pacing issues, underdeveloped characters, and a perceived lack of depth compared to other dystopian YA adaptations.
Q8: Which Divergent movie was the most successful?
The first Divergent film was the most successful in the series, both critically and commercially.
Q9: What are the core themes explored in the Divergent book series?
The Divergent book series explores themes of identity, societal control, conformity vs. individuality, the dangers of factionalism, and the importance of free will. It also deals with themes of genetic engineering and the ethical dilemmas it presents.
Q10: What is the meaning of the word “Divergent” in the context of the story?
In the story, “Divergent” refers to individuals who possess qualities from multiple factions, making them difficult to control and potentially disruptive to the established social order. They are seen as a threat by the Erudite faction and the system at large.
Q11: How did the movie adaptations handle the character of Tris Prior compared to the book?
The movie adaptations attempted to capture Tris Prior’s inner struggles and bravery, but many fans felt that her character was simplified and lacked the depth and complexity of her book counterpart. Shailene Woodley received praise for her portrayal, but the script often fell short of conveying the nuances of Tris’s personality.
Q12: What are some alternative endings that fans have proposed for the Divergent movie series?
Many fans have proposed alternative endings that either avert Tris’s death or offer a more optimistic resolution. Some suggestions involve Tris surviving and leading a reformed society, while others involve a greater emphasis on the positive aspects of Divergence and its potential to create a more balanced and harmonious world. However, the reality is that no official alternative ending exists, and the series remains unfinished.
In conclusion, the Divergent movie series’ abrupt and inconclusive end serves as a cautionary tale about the challenges of adapting complex literary works for the screen and the importance of maintaining consistent quality to sustain audience interest. The lack of a proper resolution leaves a void for fans who invested in the story and characters, forever wondering what could have been.