Robert Schwentke Isn’t Going To Direct ‘The Divergent Series: Ascendant’
Deadline reports that Robert Schwentke has dropped out of directing Divergent: Ascendant, the final installment of the Veronica Roth novel series that stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Mile Teller and Naomi Watts. Lionsgate needs to move quickly to find a replacement director, as Ascendant is scheduled to shoot in Atlanta this summer.
Schwentke just needed a break, after making Insurgent and Allegiant, back to back. Neil Burger directed the original Divergent film.
In December the release date for Ascendant moved from March 24th, 2017 to June 9, 2017. It was unclear at the time why they changed the date but maybe this is why? We will probably never find out if that’s the reason.
Schwentke has a good relationship with Lionsgate, where he helmed Red.
We will keep you posted on any new information on this!
What do you think of this change?
I’m excited to see who replaces him. Although I am a HUGE fan of the series, and of Neil Burger’s vision in Divergent. I am not impressed with Schwentke’s direction in Insurgent, and we’ll see about Allegiant.
I’m also disappointed from Neil Berger’s vision and what Schwentke differed tremendously. A lot of Insurgent was left out, cut and it didn’t flow smoothly from one scene to another, It was beyond the real time of what was going on into an unrealistic future in such a short time frame. It didn’t stay true to the books. Needed better writers because Insurgent & Allegiant have top Actors who would and could make the movie a better “come and watch” then what the Actors had to go with, which is mostly due to Schwentke’s style. I would be great if Neil Berger came back to the Fourth movie brought it back to how Divergent vision was portrayed and to make it better for the ending, Neil Berger could do this or what about using one of the spectacular Actors that are directors bring their directing to finalize this franchis with no ifs, ands or buts.
Neil Berger stayed true to the story. Bring him back!!!!