Moviefone Editorial

Tag: allegiant

  • Shailene Woodley Was Shocked by the ‘Ascendant’ News, Too

    Fans of the “Divergent” series are still reeling after it was revealed that studio Lionsgate will scrap the theatrical release of the final film in the series, “Ascendant.” While the plans to turn the franchise instead into a TV movie and accompanying series are still a bit up in the air, one person who’s also confused by what’s happening is the star of the films, Shailene Woodley.

    Woodley arrived at Comic-Con on Thursday to promote her new flick, the Oliver Stone movie “Snowden,” right as the “Ascendant” news was breaking, and told reporters she was just as in the dark about the details as them.

    “Honestly, I was on a plane when all that happened and I landed, and I’m like Whoa, what’s going on?!” Woodley said during a press event.

    When asked whether or not she would appear in a TV movie version of “Ascendant,” the actress said she wasn’t sure.

    “I need to talk and find out what the details are,” Woodley told reporters.

    The actress doubled down on that uncertainty in an interview with E! News, telling the outlet, “I honestly have no idea what’s going on with ‘Divergent.’ I know as much as you do.”

    The “Divergent” series, based on the books by Veronica Roth, was initially a hit when it first debuted in theaters. The first film had a solid debut at the box office in 2014, though the next flick, “Insurgent,” fell a bit short of those numbers when it was released in 2015. Then, this spring, “Allegiant” failed to connect with either critics or fans, pulling in a paltry $66 million.

    Many fans of the books attribute that film’s poor performance with Lionsgate’s controversial decision to split Roth’s final novel, “Allegiant,” into two flicks, a strategy that previously paid off for the studio with the “Twilight” and “Hunger Games” series. Unfortunately, it looks like that move spelled the beginning of the end for the “Divergent” franchise, and now it’s unclear if the “Ascendant” TV movie will even happen at all. If it does, it’s unlikely that Woodley and costars Theo James and Ansel Elgort will be on board.

    Stay tuned to see how this all shakes out.

    [via: Deadline, E! News]

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  • What’s New on TV, Netflix, Digital, and DVD/Blu-ray This Week: June 20-26

    At a loss for what to watch this week? From new TV, we’ve got you covered.

    New Video on Demand, Rental Streaming, and Digital

    “The Divergent Series: Allegiant”
    Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) are back to risk everything in this third film in the “Divergent” series, which arrives on Digital HD on June 21, then Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand July 12. The final novel by Veronica Roth was split into two movies, with the next one, “Ascendant” — the last in the series — coming out June 9, 2017. “Allegiant” Blu-ray and Digital special features include commentary with producers Douglas Wick and Lucy Fisher, and six in-depth featurettes; the DVD comes with two featurettes and the commentary.

    Check out this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip with Shailene Woodley, Theo James, and Zoe Kravitz talking about their relationships with their characters:

    “Miracles From Heaven”
    Jennifer Garner and Queen Latifah star in this inspiring heart-warmer, based on a true story, available on Digital HD June 21 and on disc July 12. Christy Beam’s (Garner) daughter Annabel (Kylie Rogers) suffers from a rare digestive disorder, but finds herself miraculously cured after surviving a serious accident. Blu-ray, DVD, and Digital extras include “Miracles Abound: The Making of Miracles From Heaven,” “Bearing Witness,” Creating Heaven: Concept Art Exploration, “Your Words” Music Montage, and commentary with director Patricia Riggen and screenwriter Randy Brown. Digital and Blu-ray bonus exclusives include deleted scenes and the featurette “Accounts From Annabel.”

    Watch this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip with Jennifer Garner and Queen Latifah:

    “The Phenom”
    A rookie pitcher (Johnny Simmons) in the major league breaks down on the mound and is sent down to the minors. In an effort to reclaim his success, he undergoes sessions with an unorthodox sports psychologist (Paul Giamatti), revealing past conflicts with his abusive father (Ethan Hawke). The film is out in theaters, VOD, and Digital on June 24.

    “Internet Famous” (iTunes)
    YouTuber Shane Dawson leads a cast of social media superstars in this mockumentary about digital fame, arriving exclusively on iTunes June 21.

    Check out the trailer over here, then watch this exclusive clip from the movie, featuring an unexpected cat sale negotiation at the vet:

    New on DVD and Blu-ray

    “My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2”
    Break out the Windex, it’s time to welcome the Portokalos family into your home! This sequel to the 2002 blockbuster “My Big Fat Greek Wedding” — bringing back Nia Vardalos, John Corbett, and the whole OG crew — is out on Blu-ray, DVD, and On Demand June 21. Bonus features include a gag reel; “My Big Fat Greek Dinner,” a cast roundtable retrospective set in the family restaurant, Dancing Zorbas; and “Making the Greekquel,” featuring on-set footage and cast/crew interviews.

    Check out this exclusive behind-the-scenes clip with the cast discussing two important additions to the film: Windex and bundt cakes!

    “Tom & Jerry: Back to Oz”
    Tom and Jerry return to Oz for another “Oz-some” adventure with Dorothy, Toto, and company in a new family film out on DVD June 21. This follow-up to the 2011 original movie features the voices of Jason Alexander, Frances Conroy, Grey Griffin, James Monroe Iglehart, and Stephen Root.

    Check out this fun exclusive scene from the movie:

    “Midnight Special”
    Check out this critically acclaimed sci-fi thriller on Blu-ray and DVD on June 21. Michael Shannon, Joel Edgerton, Kirsten Dunst, and Adam Driver star in the story of a father (Shannon) who tries to protect his extraordinary young son (Jaeden Lieberher) and uncover the truth about his powers. The bonus features include five character “Origins” featurettes, plus “The Unseen World.”

    TV Worth Watching

    “Game of Thrones” (Sunday on HBO at 9 p.m.)
    Can you believe we’re already at the end of Season 6? Seven hells. Ten episodes is not enough, and the next two seasons are reportedly even shorter. At any rate, HBO will follow Episode 9’s epic “Battle of the Bastards” with a finale called “The Winds of Winter,” written by showrunners David Benioff and Dan Weiss and directed by Miguel Sapochnik. The Sunday, June 26 title is also the title of the upcoming sixth book in author George R.R. Martin’s “A Song of Ice and Fire” series. The Episode 10 synopsis teases, “Cersei faces her trial,” but there will surely be more than that. Much more. And yet never enough.

    “Queen of the South” (Tuesday on USA at 10 p.m.)
    Teresa Mendoza (Alice Braga) goes from living in a barrio in Mexico to starting her own drug empire, becoming one of the wealthiest women in the world, in this drama adapted from the popular telenovela “La Reina del Sur.” Season 1 will feature 13 episodes, starting June 23.

    “Pretty Little Liars” (Tuesday on Freeform at 8 p.m.)
    PLL is back for 20 more episodes in Season 7 — 10 to air this summer, and 10 in the winter of 2017. The Season 7 premiere, “Tick-Tock, Bitches,” was written by showrunner I. Marlene King, and premieres after an all-day PLL marathon from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. on June 21. Here’s the first ep synopsis: “After Hanna’s shocking abduction by ‘Uber A,’ the PLLs and company desperately race against the clock to save one of their own. The only way to do this is by handing over evidence of Charlotte’s real murderer to ‘Uber A.’ In order to do so, the girls must decide what blatant lines they are willing to cross that they have never breached before; and once they cross that line, there is no turning back.”

    “Big Brother” (Wednesday on CBS at 8 p.m.)
    The most horribly addictive show of the summer returns for Season 18 on June 22. So far, 12 houseguests have been revealed — including Paulie, brother of BB16’s Cody Calafiore, and Tiffany, sister of BB17’s Vanessa Rousso — but we’re expecting four returnees (Nicole, Frank, James, Da’Vonne) to be announced as well. The Battle of the Block is dead (thank heaven!) however a new competition will take its place to keep the stakes high in the Sunday shows. You can get to know the newbies in the CBS cast bios, but we’re staying loyal to Nicole.

    “BattleBots” (Thursday on ABC at 8 p.m.)
    The bots are back! ABC’s second season of the competition series starts June 23 with “Robots Activate: Qualifying Round Begins.” Prepare yourself for “next generation robots — bigger, faster and stronger than ever before. The show will focus on the design and build of each robot, the bot builder backstories, their intense pursuit of the championship and the spectacle of the event.”

    New on Netflix

    “The Fundamentals of Caring”
    Paul Rudd, Selena Gomez, and Craig Roberts star in this Netflix Original film, based on the novel by Jonathan Evison, available June 24. Here’s the official synopsis from Netflix: “‘The Fundamentals of Caring’ follows Ben, a retired writer who becomes a caregiver after suffering a personal tragedy. After 6 weeks of training, Ben meets his first client, Trevor, a foul-mouthed 18-year-old with muscular dystrophy. One paralyzed emotionally, one paralyzed physically, Ben and Trevor take an impromptu road trip to all the places Trevor has become obsessed with while watching the local news, including their holy grail: the World’s Deepest Pit. Along the way, they pick up a sassy runaway and a mother-to-be who help test the pair’s survival skills outside of their calculated existence as they come to understand the importance of hope and true friendship.”

    Check out the trailer:

    “Dragons: Race to the Edge” Season 3
    The third season of this fun, family friendly Netflix original series from the creators of “How to Train Your Dragon” is available June 24.

    “Life Story” Series 1
    “The Making of ‘Life Story’”
    This six-part British natural history TV series, introduced and narrated by David Attenborough, follows the challenges of animals at different stages in their lives. It’s out June 20, along with the making-of feature, revealing how the team spent 1,900 days filming the series in 29 countries across six continents, creating 1,800 hours of footage. Whew!

    “Spotlight”
    The reigning 2015 Best Picture Oscar winner — starring Michael Keaton, Mark Ruffalo, Rachel McAdams, and Liev Schreiber — follows the Boston Globe’s Pulitzer Prize-winning Spotlight team as they uncover longterm abuses by Catholic priests. It’s out on Netflix June 22, and most definitely worth watching.

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  • What Happened to ‘Allegiant’ at the Box Office?

    'The Divergent Series: Allegiant'In its opening weekend, “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” was supposed to give the still-strong “Zootopia” a run for its money. Analysts predicted that both the hit Disney cartoon and the third installment of the YA franchise would reach about $35 million.

    As it turned out, “Zootopia” did even better than expected, losing just 26 percent of last week’s business and grabbing another estimated $38.0 million, good enough to spend a third weekend in the top spot. But the competition wasn’t even close. “Allegiant” came in nearly $9 million behind, with an estimated $29.0 million. That’s the franchise’s lowest opening yet.

    “Allegiant” should have done a lot better; at the very least, it should have held its own against a movie that’s been out for almost a month. So, what happened? Here are five areas where Tris and her team ran into trouble.

    1. Negative Reactions to the Book
    Like other young-adult fantasy franchises, the “Divergent” movies have banked on the popularity of the best-selling books they came from, as well as the storytelling skills of the authors who created them.

    But even among fans of Veronica Roth’s novels, “Allegiant” was a controversial book that outraged many readers. Even though the ending that prompted the “WTF?” reaction from readers doesn’t happen yet in the “Allegiant” movie (fans might see it in 2017’s “Ascendant“), that sense of disappointment surely kept many “Divergent” fans from wanting to see even this first half of the two-film finale.

    2. Splitting the Movie In Half
    The tactic of splitting a franchise finale into two parts, which made some sense with the plot-heavy “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” has increasingly come to appear to fans as a cynical cash grab.

    The first-half-of-a-finale movies, like “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay, Part 1” or “Allegiant,” often feel like throat-clearing, all exposition and set-up and no payoff. They don’t feel like organic, stand-alone movies, like the earlier chapters. The stories and characters feel stretched thin, as if to justify such a film’s running time. It’s no wonder that fans often feel like skipping the second-to-last movie in a series and waiting until the actual finale. It feels even more problematic to split the adaptation of a book few liked in half — why would they pay to see two installments when they weren’t too keen on the whole thing the first time?

    3. The Execution
    “Allegiant” might still have drawn fans if the film had been well-made. But it wasn’t, according to critics, who gave the film a terrible 10 percent on Rotten Tomatoes. Ticketbuyers weren’t much kinder, giving the film a B grade at CinemaScore, indicating weak word-of-mouth.

    4. Poor Timing
    The third week in March may have worked well for the first two movies, but this time around, “Allegiant” ran into tough competition. There was “Zootopia,” of course, which was built to appeal to older audiences — as well as tots. There was also the new “Miracles From Heaven,” the faith-based drama starring Jennifer Garner, which did better than expected with an estimated $15.0 million.

    There’s “10 Cloverfield Lane,” which cut into “Allegiant’s” audience to earn $12.5 million in its second weekend. And for older teens, “Deadpool” is still raking it in, earning an estimated $8.0 million in its sixth weekend. Even without the R-rated superhero movie, there were still plenty of acclaimed, teen-friendly options to compete with Tris’ latest PG-13-rated outing.

    5. Fading Interest In the Genre
    The problem may be bigger than “The Divergent Series.” It’s also possible that the whole young-adult fantasy/post-apocalyptic future genre is played out. “The Hunger Games” saw diminishing returns with the final two movies. The second “Maze Runner” movie in 2015 earned 20 percent less than the first one. The latest attempt at launching a franchise in the genre, January’s “The 5th Wave,” stalled out at around $34 million.

    It’s clear that distributor Lionsgate expects big things from the franchise closer, “Ascendant” — instead of releasing it next March, it’s coming out June 2017, at the height of summer blockbuster season. But if the audience has moved on, not just from “Divergent,” but from the whole genre, then summer dollars aren’t going to redeem the downturn the series is seeing.

    If the studios don’t figure out what the next big thing is for the audience that made Lionsgate’s “Twilight” and “Hunger Games” franchises so huge over the past decade, they may as well rename the final movie “Obsolescent.”

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  • 5 Things You Need to Know Before You See ‘The Divergent Series: Allegiant’

    [SPOILERS: If you haven’t read the books, or seen any of the movies, stop reading. Now. Still here? Okay, but you’ve been warned.]

    The “Divergent” series returns with “Allegiant,” its third and second-to-last installment, starring Shailene Woodley as messianic “The One” protagonist Tris. Directed by Robert Schwentke, the film co-stars Theo James as Tris’ love interest, Four, and it also covers half of the 526-page book.

    Since it has been a full year since “Insurgent,” we’ve compiled a primer of five things to get you ready for the new film.

    1. It Covers the First Half of the Last Book
    'The Divergent Series: Allegiant'“Allegiant” may be the title of the last book in Veronica Roth’s best-selling “Divergent” series, but the adaptation’s filmmakers have named the next and final movie in the dystopian tale “Ascendant” instead of the typical “Allegiant: Part II.”

    That clever decision may have confused movie-only fans into thinking the movies were based on a four-book franchise rather than a trilogy. But this is, like the penultimate “Hunger Games” before it, is just one half of the final book. The last film – to be directed by franchise newcomer Lee Toland Krieger — is set for a June 2017 release.

    2. There’s a New Antagonist
    “Insurgent” ends with Factionless leader Evelyn (Naomi Watts) executing Erudite leader Jeanine (Kate Winslet), so naturally this next installment features a new villainous threat to Tris and Tobias’ future. Enter Jeff Daniels as the smarmy David, the head of the mysterious Bureau of Genetic Welfare – the organization beyond the “wall” that sealed off the population stuck in the Chicago Faction system as a decades-long genetics experiment. The Big Brother-like Bureau watches the Chicago community, “Truman Show“-style, without intervening (so far).

    3. Eugenics Outside, Civil War Inside
    Gone are the fear simulations (the most sci-fi aspect of the first two films) and the personality-based compounds. Now that they’re on the outside of the world of factions, Team Tris is thrust into a new-to-them society full of such tech as: floating globes, hovercrafts, tall glossy towers, and bio-weapons – not to mention the Bureau’s obsession with genetic “purity.” Meanwhile, back inside the wall, Evelyn’s Factionless crew fights with Johanna’s united “Allegiant” (Octavia Spencer) for control.

    4. The Love Story Is Tested
    We haven’t yet seen the movie, but given the attractive actors playing Bureau employees Matthew (Bill Skarsgaard) and Nita (Nadia Hilker), their characters are to resemble their counterparts in the book, each teaming with Tris and Four respectively — forcing the couple to wonder if they’re on the still on the same page.

    Don’t worry, though, there’s no actual cheating in the book, so we don’t expect any in the movie either (who would cheat on Theo James, even if it is with Alexander Skarsgaard‘s hot little brother?).

    5. It “Diverges” From the Book
    Although we won’t spoil exactly where in the book’s plotline “Allegiant” breaks for “Ascendant,” one thing everyone wonders is whether the screenwriters’ creative liberties extend to certain controversial twists in Roth’s source material. There is still going to be a body count that includes some beloved characters, but even author Roth has commented that the end may not exactly mirror the one she wrote.

    And according to some fans, the central prospect of those changes is a good thing (spoiler alert: that Tris won’t have to sacrifice herself and die to save her friends).

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  • 12 Great YA Books That Could Be the Next ‘Divergent’

    %Slideshow-371761%The release of “Allegiant” signals the inevitable end of the “Divergent” franchise (one final installment, “Ascendant,” comes out next year). So it’s time to examine what as-yet-unmade young adult novels have a chance to join “Harry Potter” and “The Hunger Games” on the list of Best YA Films.

    Although “Divergent” and “Maze Runner” have been commercially-successful dystopian stories, and realistic contemporary tales like “The Fault in Our Stars” have generated critical appeal, many more young adult adaptations have failed to launch — even ones with built-in fandoms at the ready. Here are 12 optioned YA novels worthy of the big screen.ya books that would make great movies

  • New ‘Allegiant’ Trailer Takes Tris Beyond the Wall

    AllegiantIn the world of the “Divergent” series, the wall separating the city from everything else was a barrier not to be crossed. Until Tris (Shailene Woodley) came along.

    In the new trailer for “Allegiant,” Tris, Four (Theo James), and motley crew of misfits ventures beyond the wall to discover the unimaginable. We get glimpses of the futuristic technology that lies out there, but will the people they meet save them — or destroy them?

    “Tris, this is not the place we thought it was,” Four urgently warns her.

    The last book in Veronica Roth’s book series will be divided into two films, “Allegiant” and “Ascendant.” Jeff Daniels joins the cast of the newest movie as Daniel, a leader of the group that takes in Tris and Four.

    “Allegiant” opens in theaters March 18.

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  • Tris Discovers a Whole New World in ‘Allegiant’ Trailer

    Divergent: Allegiant When we last saw Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) at the end of “The Divergent Series: Insurgent,” they were heading for the walls that separated Chicago from the rest of the world.

    In this new trailer for “Allegiant,” they get outside those walls — but what they find is not what they expected.

    “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” World Premiere Trailer

    It’s here! Watch the first trailer for “Allegiant” — the latest film in the Divergent Series starring Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Ansel Elgort, and Zoë Kravitz!

    Posted by BuzzFeed Entertainment on Friday, November 13, 2015

    Tris learns some shocking truths about the world and her place in it. It seems like Chicago was a big experiment — one that’s failed. Now, the lives of everyone in the city are in peril, and it’s up to her to save them all.

    “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” opens in theaters March 18.

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  • Shailene Woodley Goes Beyond the Wall in First ‘Allegiant’ Teaser

    allegiant, divergent, divergent seriesThe first teaser trailer for the third installment in the “Divergent” series, “Allegiant,” is finally here, and it offers a peek at even more challenges facing Tris (Shailene Woodley) and co. as they venture beyond the wall and into the unknown.

    First, the clip gives viewers a refresher on the first two flicks, “Divergent” and “Insurgent,” and how Tris fought back against the powers that be, led by Kate Winslet‘s Jeanine. She shatters the status quo — and there’s lots of imagery of shattering glass on display here, in case you didn’t get the message — and leads Four (Theo James) and others on a path to finding out the truth about what the Erudite have hidden from them.

    That all leads to a glimpse of the group scaling the wall surrounding the ruined Chicago, and standing atop it to see what’s before them: another wasteland, this one a glowing red mystery. There’s also the introduction of Jeff Daniels‘s character, David, who leads the Bureau of Genetic Welfare and tells Tris, ominously, “You saved a city. Help me save the world.”

    Check out the clip below. “Allegiant” is due in theaters on March 18, 2016.

    Photo credit: YouTube

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  • Final Two ‘Divergent’ Movies Get New Titles, Logos, and Intriguing Taglines

    “Part 1” and “Part 2” is so passé. Good for “The Divergent Series” for ditching the labels for the last two movies, following “Divergent” and “Insurgent.” The final book in Veronica Roth’s trilogy is called “Allegiant” and the studio planned to break it up into two movies. That’s still happening, but what was previously titled “The Divergent Series: Allegiant — Part 1,” and “The Divergent Series: Allegiant — Part 2,” is now “The Divergent Series: Allegiant” (March 18, 2016) and “The Divergent Series: Ascendant” (March 24, 2017).

    MTV got the scoop, noting that the final Shailene Woodley movies will expand the book’s story in mysterious ways. They also revealed the two films’ new logos and taglines.


    So the tagline for “Allegiant” is “Break the Boundaries of Your World” and “Ascendant” has the intriguing tease “The End Is Never What You Expect.” Really? Not what we expect — is that a hint to a twist on the book’s ending, or just a hint to anyone who hasn’t read the book that maybe they should “expect the unexpected”?

    More importantly, Ansel Elgort took his shirt off with Theo James when celebrating the wrap of “Allegiant.” Now we know that “Allegiant” and “Ascendant” are different factions from the same franchise, so maybe he’ll share another shirtless photo for the final movie.

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  • Ansel Elgort Wraps ‘Allegiant’ Filming With (Apologetic) Shirtless Photo

    A very punny and self-deprecating Ansel Elgort is celebrating the end of “Allegiant” filming. The third book in Veronica Roth’s “Divergent” series is being split into two parts, with “Allegiant: Part 1” coming out March 18, 2016. Ansel returns as Caleb Prior, brother of Tris Prior, played by Shailene Woodley.

    On what was apparently his final day on set, Ansel posed for a photo with Theo James, who plays Tris’s love interest, Tobias “Four” Eaton. Check out the pic Ansel shared on Instagram, and don’t miss the classic caption: “ITS A META’FOUR’ #Allegiant we are WRAPPED! I know we’d all rather see theo shirtless I’m sorry.”

    ITS A META”FOUR” #Allegiant we are WRAPPED! I know we’d all rather see theo shirtless I’m sorry.

    A photo posted by anselelgort (@anselelgort) on


    Ansel must’ve known he’d have plenty of fans jumping to his defense, insisting they are perfectly happy that he went shirtless. Both Theo (looking very James Dean here) and Ansel have become heartthrobs in their own rights, even if Shailene is the real star. She probably doesn’t mind that the boys are the ones showing off their bodies and competing for attention.

    Also on August 14, Ansel shared another set photo, writing, “That’s a wrap ALLEGIANT! Much love to the cast and crew. Gonna miss this guy @wyattbelton (my hairdresser ✂️) He doesn’t really have that much hair to style, but what’s there does look good. Apparently Ansel went right from filming to climbing in the desert in Nevada, since he’s now posting about that. Onward and upward!

    Congrats to Ansel on leaving it all behind. After “Part 1” is released next year, “The Divergent Series: Allegiant – Part 2” comes out on March 24, 2017.

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