Last spring, Lionsgate saw their franchise hopes around “The Divergent Series” circle the drain when “Allegiant” hit cinemas. Though managing to strike surprising gold with the first film in the series, and getting decent returns on the follow-up “Insurgent,” the pictures were never that well reviewed or beloved beyond a very small, devoted fan base. Thus by time “Allegiant” arrived, audience interest had moved on, critical notices were dismal, and the resulting box office was so disappointing that the studio immediately axed plans to make the final movie in the series, “Ascendant.” But this is Hollywood, and a franchise never dies.
Only a few months after “Allegiant” opened, Lionsgate began plotting a TV movie version of “Ascendant,” that would then lead to spinoff series. Franchise stars were pretty cool on the idea, and lead actress Shailene Woodley made it clear she wasn’t going to follow the series along to the small screen. Things pretty much went quiet after that, but it seems the studio is still trying to figure out how to get money from a stone.
Deadline reports that Lionsgate is now working with Starz to develop an “Ascendant” TV series. The creative team who were going to make the mooted theatrical release, writer Adam Cozad (“The Legend Of Tarzan,” “Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit“) and director Lee Toland Krieger (“The Age Of Adaline“), are back in their respective roles, and will be executive producing the project too.
There’s no word if the original cast will return (don’t hold your breath) or if this will be a limited series or something that Lionsgate and Starz want to be an ongoing concern. Even more, there’s no word on who even asked for this or wants it.