‘Divergent’ Franchise’s Unreleased ‘Ascendant’ To Be Redeveloped As Series For Starz

The “Divergent” franchise will finally release its fourth installment “Ascendant” — but not on the big screen.

Last year, “Ascendant” did not make it to the big screen due to the disappointing box office results of the third “Divergent” movie. The third installment, “Allegiant,” opened with only $29 million in March 2016. This figure is 44 percent lower than the opening gross for “Insurgent” in 2015, according to Variety. With this, Lionsgate decided to launch “Ascendant” as a standalone TV series that would focus on a new set of characters from the “Divergent” universe.

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According to The Hollywood Reporter, a new script for “Ascendant” has already been commissioned, and it will be written by Adam Cozad for Starz. Cozad will also serve as executive producer alongside Lee Toland Krieger. Both Cozad and Krieger were previously tapped by Lionsgate to write and direct the “Ascendant” movie.

As of late, it is still unclear whether or not “Divergent” stars Shailene Woodley and Theo James will be involved in the TV series in any way. While speaking with Screen Rant in 2016, Woodley said that she did not sign up to be part of a television show. “Out of respect to the studio and everyone involved, they may have changed their mind and may be doing something different, but I’m not necessarily interested in doing a television show,” she said.

Woodley and James’ “Divergent” co-star, Miles Teller, seconded the “Big Little Lies” actress’ statement about starring in the “Ascendant” TV series. “We all signed on in hopes that it’d be released in theaters; whereas reconfiguring it as a lower-budgeted TV project presents ‘a different set of circumstances,’” he told The Hollywood Reporter.

Originally, “Ascendant” was slated for a June 2017 release in theaters, but this was delayed due to the poor box office performance of “Allegiant.” It is also unclear when Starz will release the TV adaptation of Veronica Roth’s final installment in the “Divergent” book series.

Last year, Roth revealed that she wasn’t part of the decision to split the final book into two parts. “So while Lionsgate has certainly listened to my feedback, at the end of the day, they do what they think is best,” she said.