Movie News: Production on 'Allegiant - Part 1' Began Today!

Initiates! Great news today from the Divergent world.

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PRODUCTION ON ALLEGIANT – PART 1, 

THE THIRD INSTALLMENT OF THE DIVERGENT FRANCHISE, COMMENCES TODAY

Press release:

Santa Monica, CA – May 20, 2015 – Lionsgate (NYSE: LGF) announced today that principal photography has commenced in Atlanta on the feature film adaptation of THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ALLEGIANT – PART 1, the third installment of the blockbuster DIVERGENT action adventure franchise, starring Golden Globe® nominated Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Academy Award® winner Octavia Spencer, and Academy Award® nominated Naomi Watts. Golden Globe® nominated Jeff Daniels joins the cast. Returning cast members include Ray Stevenson, Zoë Kravitz, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, Maggie Q, Keiynan Lonsdale and Jonny Weston, as well as Mekhi Phifer and Daniel Dae Kim. Other new cast members also include Nadia Hilker and Bill Skarsgård. Based on author Veronica Roth’s New York Times best seller, the film is being directed by Robert Schwentke from a screenplay by Noah Oppenheim and Adam Cooper & Bill Collage and Stephen Chbosky. Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher are producing the film through their Red Wagon Entertainment banner along with Pouya Shahbazian. Todd Lieberman and David Hoberman are executive producing through their Mandeville Films banner along with Barry Waldman and Neil Burger. Lionsgate will release ALLEGIANT – PART 1 theatrically in North America through its Summit Entertainment label on Friday, March 18, 2016.

After the earth-shattering revelations of INSURGENT, in Allegiant Part 1 Tris (Shailene Woodley) must escape with Four (Theo James) beyond the Wall that encircles Chicago to finally discover the shocking truth of what lies behind it.

The Divergent series of books were written by Veronica Roth and have been perennial New York Times best-sellers since 2011. Book sales of the “Divergent” trilogy have surged to over 34 million copies worldwide, up from 17 million at the time of DIVERGENT’s March 21, 2014 release. Allegiant sold 455,000 copies on its first day of release in 2013 to break a company record for Katherine Tegen Books/HarperCollins Publishers. Pre-orders for Allegiant exceeded those of any book in the history of HarperCollins.

The first two DIVERGENT films have grossed more than $550 million at the global box office and are Lionsgate’s highest-grossing films domestically outside THE HUNGER GAMES and TWILIGHT franchises.

The fourth installment in the series, ALLEGIANT – PART 2, is slated for release on March 24, 2017.

Erik Feig, Co-President of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, Gillian Bohrer, Lionsgate’s EVP of Production & Development, and Matt Janzen, Lionsgate’s VP, Production & Development, are overseeing the project for the studio.

To stay connected with all updates related to the film, follow the official Twitter handle (www.twitter.com/Divergent) and like the movie’s Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Divergent).

ABOUT LIONSGATE
Lionsgate is a premier next generation global content leader with a strong and diversified presence in motion picture production and distribution, television programming and syndication, home entertainment, digital distribution, channel platforms and international distribution and sales. The Company currently has more than 30 television shows on over 20 different networks spanning its primetime production, distribution and syndication businesses, including such critically-acclaimed hits as the multiple Emmy® Award-winning Mad Men and Nurse Jackie, the broadcast network series Nashville, the syndication success The Wendy Williams Show, the critically-acclaimed hit series Orange is the New Black and the breakout series The Royals.

Its feature film business has been fueled by such recent successes as the blockbuster first three installments of The Hunger Games franchise, the first two installments of the Divergent franchise, Age of Adaline, John Wick, Now You See Me, CBS Films/Lionsgate’s The DUFF, Roadside Attractions' A Most Wanted Man, Lionsgate/Codeblack Films' Addicted and Pantelion Films' Instructions Not Included, the highest-grossing Spanish-language film ever released in the U.S.

Lionsgate's home entertainment business is an industry leader in box office-to-DVD and box office-to-VOD revenue conversion rates. Lionsgate handles a prestigious and prolific library of approximately 16,000 motion picture and television titles that is an important source of recurring revenue and serves as the foundation for the growth of the Company's core businesses. The Lionsgate and Summit brands remain synonymous with original, daring, quality entertainment in markets around the world. www.lionsgate.com

Movie Review: Divergent

DIVERGENT

Release Date: March 21, 2014
Studio: Summit Entertainment, Red Wagon Entertainment
Director: Neil Burger
Screenwriter: Evan Daugherty, Vanessa Taylor, Veronica Roth (novel)
Main Cast: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Jai Courtney, Miles Teller, Kate Winslet, Zoë Kravitz, Ashley Judd, Tony Goldwyn, Ben Lloyd-Hughes
Genre: Action | Adventure | Sci-Fi
MPAA Rating: Rated PG-13 for intense violence and action, thematic elements and some sensuality

Official Sites: Website | Facebook | Twitter | Instagram | YouTube | Google +

Storyline: DIVERGENT is a thrilling action-adventure film set in a world where people are divided into distinct factions based on human virtues. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet)to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it’s too late. Based on the best-selling book series by Veronica Roth.

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The movie will remind you why we fell in love with the world of Divergent. Simply put into one word: Perfect!!!

Everyone behind the making and executing of this film deserves pats on their backs. There isn’t a single thing I can point out that did not work in the film. From the beginning when you see the futuristic beat up city of Chicago, that I have to admit the movie did a better job in creating what the book described as to what I pictured in my head while reading. Just in that one detail, I was blown away. The buildings and machinery that help run the city and the faction clothing were so on point. I really loved that even though it’s set in a dystopian world we were still given colors, textures and beauty throughout the whole film. The way the faction areas were divided made sense and flowed with each other during the movie. I could sit here and pick each thing or moment apart but everything would end with same result. Perfect!

Moving on to our beloved characters. If someone questions what does chemistry look like? All they have to do is watch Divergent and they will see it first hand. From the minor to major characters, I loved them all. I was extremely pleased of course with Four and Tris. If those two didn’t have it then it wouldn’t have matter how great everything else. The main protagonists have to sell it to us so the fans can gobble it up and not leave one crumb behind. Theo James (Four) and Shailene Woodley (Tris) were jaw dropping amazing together and individually too. The age difference did not affect in any way as I thought it might when they were first cast. The “kiss” was hotter than lava. I could have watched them non-stop. They were meant to be Four and Tris. No doubt about it after you watch and experience Divergent. Other characters that stood out were Eric (Jai Courtney), his intensity as the Dauntless leader was fantastic and HOT. He was scary yet you could not take your eyes off him (Theo, too of course). Kate Winslet as Jeanine, holy smokes she made evil look easy. This was no Rose on the Titanic, Winslet owned her role and shows us she can also be the villain. Then you got Peter (Miles Teller) being cocky like we know him to be from other films. The fight between Peter and Tris, OMG! I wanted to jump inside the movie and kick his ass because dayum that was one crazy fight scene. It really looked like she got her ass handed to her. But no worries, Tris shows why she is Divergent and Dauntless and kicks ass eventually. You guys that have read the book know how the story goes. Tris won’t go down without a fight!

Something else that was just WOW, the movie score & soundtrack. I did not want the movie to end or certain scenes to end, so that I could listen to the songs longer. All the song choices are amazing and where they were placed just make the movie stellar. Just wait for that “kiss” the music will add such a sensual vibe to a kiss that’s already sexy to begin with. Ladies you will be thinking, man Woodley is one lucky gal during that “kiss”.

Divergent is probably one of the best book to film adaptation I have seen in a long time, and to get it right on the first film, Summit Ent. really did their homework. Like I mentioned before, everyone behind the making of Divergent needs a standing ovation. Divergent is that AMAZING. After you experience Divergent, you will leave the theater with such a movie hangover, that you’ll be dying to see it again right away. I recommend this movie for everyone. I am excited to go see it again and take my whole family. Those that haven’t read the book, will still enjoy it immensely. So excited that the day has arrived. Happy Divergent Day!

Exclusive: Interview with ‘Divergent’ Stars Jai Courtney and Miles Teller

On Tuesday March 3rd, the multi-city Divergent tour stopped in Dallas, Texas to promote the upcoming release of Divergent. RCE/OUaT was part of the red carpet and we were able to ask Jai Courtney and Miles Teller a question each about the film.

We also took several photographs of the Jai and Miles and will share them soon as well. This experience was great and we hope to experience it again for other movies. To end the night, we were able to watch a screening of ‘Divergent’ which was better than the icing on the cake. On march 21st, we will share our full movie review of ‘Divergent’ (we are embargoed). Till then though, I will say that Summit Entertainment did Veronica Roth’s novel justice. The movie was fantastic. I am still in a ‘Divergent’ hangover.

We hope you enjoy our interview and stay tuned as we continue to share more from the Divergent Dallas red carpet event and ‘Divergent’ news.

‘Divergent‘ hits theaters March 21st 2014.