From The Hunger Games to Harry Potter, Twilight to Summit Entertainment’s Divergent franchise, numerous YA franchises have opted to split the final installment in their respective series into two parts, with pessimists and optimists debating over whether the tactic pays homage to the novels on which they are based or, on the other hand, is simply designed to rake in a surplus at the box office.
Whatever the case, Summit has confirmed that its conclusive adaptation of Veronica Roth’s novel has undergone a name change, as the studio swaps Allegiant – Part 2 in favor of Ascendant. First picked up by MTV, the official titles for each respective installment are now referred to as The Divergent Series: Allegiant and The Divergent Series: Ascendant.
Nothing major, really, though we can imagine that there will be a portion of the moviegoing audience who aren’t aware that each film is essentially two sides of the same coin. We’ll leave that one to the marketing experts.
As for Allegian – sorry, Ascendant – Shailene Woodley’s Beatrice “Tris” Prior is back once again in her fight for freedom, partnering with fellow divergent Four (Theo James) as the pair look to lead their freedom fights into the ruins of a post-apocalyptic Chicago. Sporting the tagline “break the boundaries of your world,” Robert Schwentke’s two-part finale will draw an end to a story that although never lighted up the box office in the way Summit would have wanted, still managed to carve out a niche following.
Though it may never have reached the same heights as Lionsgate’s The Hunger Games, Summit is gearing up for a one-two finale for its take on Roth’s Divergent series, with Allegiant landing on March 18, 2016 and Ascendant following close by on March 24, 2017.