What a joke, but this is what happens when audiences accept mediocre cinema. I’s argue Lionsgate and Summit’s decision to split the third book in the Divergent series, Allegiant, into two parts is a reaction to the film’s mediocre box office performance as well as the standard money grab in situations such as when you have a young adult franchise where studios hope to milk the audience for as much money as possible.
I do wonder, however, by 2017 will the audience that accepts Divergent as anything other than the mess it is even be interested in the rest of the franchise?
I ask because today the studio announced Allegiant – Part 1 will be released on March 18, 2016 and Allegiant – Part 2 will hit theaters a year later on March 24, 2017.
The announcement comes in advance of this weekend’s rollout of Divergent into France, Germany, Russia, Australia and Scandinavia as the film, which was budgeted at a reported $85 million, has only grossed $139 million so far worldwide.
[amz asin=”B00BD99JMW” size=”small”]The studio has already announced stars Shailene Woodley and Theo James will return for Insurgent, which begins production next month and is slated for release on March 20, 2015. The film will be directed by Robert Schwentke (R.I.P.D.) and like all four films in the franchise, they are based on the novels by Veronica Roth, which, according to pretty much everyone I’ve heard from that’s read them, get increasingly worse.
After the cataclysmic events in Insurgent, Tris and Four enter a dangerous new world in Allegiant — Parts 1 & 2 that they no longer recognize. As new truths are revealed about the past and future, Tris must face impossible choices about courage, allegiance and love to protect the people closest to her.
Along with Woodley and James, Jai Courtney, Miles Teller and Kate Winslet are expected to return for the sequels.
