Divergent Sequel Has Begun Filming!

If you’re a long time reader of this blog (and why wouldn’t you be?) then you know that I had some pretty strong opinions about the movie Divergent.  Not to say I thought it was a bad movie, just that it was pretty mediocre and filled with a ton of logic flaws which I found very distracting when watching the movie.  Well, news has just hit that work on the Divergent sequel, titled “Insurgent,” has begun.  Here’s the plot synopsis for the film:

INSURGENT raises the stakes for Tris as she searches for allies and answers in the dystopian ruins of a futuristic Chicago. Tris (Woodley) and Four (James) are now fugitives on the run, hunted by Jeanine (Winslet), the leader of the power-hungry Erudite elite. Racing against time, they must find out what Tris’s family sacrificed their lives to protect, and why the Erudite leaders will do anything to stop them. Haunted by her past choices but desperate to protect the ones she loves, Tris, with Four at her side, faces one impossible challenge after another as they unlock the truth about the past and ultimately the future of their world.

Uuuuuuummmmmmmmmm….

Okay, people.  You say the same movie I did, right?  Didn’t all the Erudite’s get put in their place once the Dauntless snapped out of their mind control?  I mean, between Abnegation and Dauntless, you’d think Erudite would be screwed.  Not to mention most of the muckety-mucks behind that uprising/coup/whatever were killed at the end of Divergent, or at least arrested.  I wondered at the time why Tris had to go on the run at the end because she’d basically just saved the day and all the guys whose job it is to carry weapons were pissed as hell that they’d basically been mind controlled.

SO WHY IS SHE NOW BEING HUNTED AND HAVE TO RACE AGAINST TIME TO UNCOVER A LOST SECRET??????

Because… there wouldn’t be a sequel otherwise, I guess?

(Makes sense, logic.  Thank you.)

Anyway, here’s the details on the production that’s just kicked into high gear:

Fans of the recent hit and mostly well reviewed ‘Divergent‘ already know that there was a sequel that was greenlit. That isn’t the only good news, though, as they should be happy to hear that this sequel has already started filming in Atlanta!

‘Insurgent’ will pick up right after the events of the first film with Tris (Shailene Woodley) and Four (Theo James) on the run from the power-hungry Erudite leader Jeanin (Kate Winslet) as they begin to uncover the secrets of their world.

New to the movie franchise will be Octavia Spencer who was added to the cast to play Amity leader Johanna. As the film continues during production, I’m sure more casting news will be released as well as a slew of promotional pictures.

Robert Schwentke (‘R.I.P.D. ‘,’Red’) will be taking over the director’s chair from Neil Burger (‘The Illusionist’, ‘Limitless’). also have a feeling we’ll get some amazingly well put together action sequences in this one that may actually end up looking better than the first movie!

I think its cool that Robert Schwentke is taking the helm, as he has a pretty good visual style that will blend in well with that of Burger’s from the first film.  He’s got a track record of good action, but let’s be honest, the stories for Red and R.I.P.D. weren’t the best.  Burger was able to craft a decent movie from a book that barely made a lick of sense in its worldbuilding.  But without all the set-up, they can probably just focus on the spectacle… you know, when they’re not having Tris and Four exchange angsty glances after they almost touch.  (Thank goodness Four is a highly trained warrior.  The amount of blue balls Tris gives him would kill a normal man.)

Okay all you Divergent fans, go on and let me have it.  Defend the second book to the high heavens and call me a close-minded patoot (its a word) if you must.  You all know how much I like my YA entertainment, so I’m hoping Insurgent is a better movie than its predecessor.  But frankly, I’m not holding out much hope.  So are you excited the second movie is filming?  And do you think the change in directors is a good thing or a bad thing?  Oh, and 10 cool points to anyone who can explain to me how Kate Winslet’s character isn’t in jail after the first movie.

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