‘Divergent’ Finale to Skip Theaters, Launch as a TV Movie and Spinoff Series | Variety 

Lionsgate is planning to wrap up the “Divergent Series” with a television movie and a spinoff series,

Negotiations are in the early stages, but instead of having “

The Divergent Series: Ascendant” open in theaters next year, the studio wants to wrap up the film series on the small screen, according to an individual with knowledge of the situation. That would then segue into a standalone television series set in the same post-apocalyptic world.

The first two “Divergent” films were box office hits, but the most recent chapter, “Allegiant,” stumbled when it hit theaters last spring. The fourth and final film, “Ascendant,” was originally scheduled to debut in June 2017, when it would have squared off against “World War Z 2” and a reboot of “The Mummy.” The studio initially planned to start shooting this summer in Atlanta, before “Allegiant’s” box office performance caused them to rethink that strategy.

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Lionsgate’s television group will handle production. The idea is to finalize the storylines involving the current cast and to introduce a new cast, who would then continue the series on either a traditional or streaming network.

The “Divergent” films focused on a futuristic society where people are broken up into social and personality-related factions. Veronica Roth authored the best-selling series that inspired the movies.

It’s not clear if stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, and others will return for the “Ascendant” television movie. Lee Toland Krieger (“Age of Adaline”) had been tapped to direct the film.

No deals appear to have been made, and sources say that the the studio has yet to pitch the project to networks.

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I’m one of the few people who actually enjoyed this series, so I’m disappointed I won’t get to see it end on the big screen. But this news is kinda hilarious to me…I mean, this is just totally unprecedented!

Given that the main characters dies at the end of the 3rd book, a TV series seems a bit far-fetched.

Well that sucks. A TV series could be cool I guess but I was really looking forward to another big screen movie wrapping this story up.

They betrayed you when they decided to turn at 2 film series into 4, making you pay twice as much.

Haha…the films sucked so bad. Hunger Games forever.

I’d be interested to see a spinoff (much like Shadowhunters did – the show is way better than the movie was) but I’d be incredibly upset to see the original cast not in the last movie? That seems like a very odd move and considering Ascendent is meant to be the final part of Allegiant, why switch the cast out? I think Lionsgate should eat their losses and stay true to the fans who did support this franchise whether or not the films were any good.

So, wait, they’re planning to betray the audience by scrapping the fourth film with the original cast, and then expecting that audience to watch a Tv series version?! That’s like expecting your recent ex to come to your wedding.

Wow that’s definitely a kick in the face to anyone that has sat through (especially the last 2) in the theater. So instead of doing what they said they were going to do & satisfying (to some degree) the fans in a theatrical conclusion to this series, they cop out and shift it to TV for the penultimate story. Not to mention the actors that have put time into this and naturally want to see a conclusion to their story arcs. I say boycott it completely if they aren’t able to get the same actors to finish it. If you recast you should be made to pay for it. Who would want to watch ANY spinoff to this disaster at that point. Lionsgate should be ashamed of themselves!!!

People not going to see the last film is what put them in this mess. I don’t think you’d have too much trouble with that boycott. Anyway, I doubt Woodley comes back.

Perhaps they shouldn’t have been greedy bastards in the first place and split the final book into 2 movies.