Summary
Veronica Roth doesn't mind that the Divergent movie franchise was never finished, understanding that the movies and her books were two separate things.
The Divergent franchise encountered significant challenges from the start, culminating in the third film being a commercial failure due to inadequate execution and an inability to effectively capture the intricacies of Roth's books. Regrettably, the filmmakers erred by dividing the final installment into two segments, exacerbating the decline of the series and exacerbating frustration among fans.
Veronica Roth, the author of Divergent, has expressed her indifference towards the incomplete movie franchise. The original Divergent trilogy, which was published between 2011 and 2013, gained immense popularity as a post-apocalyptic Young Adult series, often being compared to The Hunger Games. Similar to Suzanne Collins' novels, the Divergent books were adapted for the screen with plans to split the final book into two movies. However, due to the disappointing performance of The Divergent Series: Allegiant, the second part, The Divergent Series: Ascendant, was ultimately canceled, leaving the franchise unfinished.
In an interview with People, Roth revealed that she was not bothered by the movie franchise's lack of a proper conclusion. She harbored no negative feelings towards the adaptations, understanding that the practice of splitting the final book into two movies was standard during that time. Moreover, she acknowledged that the movies deviated significantly from the books, making them essentially two separate entities. Below is her statement:
"I wasn't bothered by the fact that the Divergent movie franchise ended without a proper conclusion. I hold no ill will towards the adaptations. It was customary back then to divide the final book into two parts, but the movies diverged so significantly from the books that they became two distinct entities."
What Happened To The Divergent Movie Franchise?
Breaking things into two was incredibly popular back then, which is why that decision was made. However, I always had a sense of tranquility about it because I knew the movies were diverging from the books and altering the build-up would ultimately alter the ending. So, in a way, I felt that at that particular point... I can't quite put my finger on it, but there are countless aspects to discuss regarding the third movie. Nevertheless, it stands on its own. It feels complete to me, relatively speaking, but then again, what does "complete" even mean in this context?
Although The Hunger Games became one of the most successful movie franchises in history, the Divergent movie franchise faced a significant decline when it reached its third installment. It was not entirely surprising that it never reached a proper conclusion, considering its struggles from the beginning. The first movie achieved commercial success, attracting fans of the book to the cinema for the initial adaptation of the novels, but it received mixed-to-negative reviews overall. The subsequent two sequels were heavily criticized by film critics, leading to the last one being a commercial failure.
It's challenging to determine what went awry when Roth's books presented a captivating premise
in a mysterious dystopian society. This world separates everyone into factions and follows the gripping journey of Tris (Shailene Woodley), the intriguing protagonist who rebels against the strict factions in search of her own path. The film also boasted a successful source material and an ensemble cast of esteemed actors. The main issue, however, was its poor execution. Its two major flaws included a failure to provide adequate character development, straying significantly from the Divergent books, and the decision to split the final installment into two parts.The movies failed to capture the intricate complexity of Roth's novels. While the novels delved into a convoluted web of manipulation, conspiracy, and conformity, the films simplified the plot and turned the series into action movies lacking depth and character development. Furthermore, dividing the last film into two parts only added to the dissatisfaction with the series. However, Roth clarifies that the shortcomings of the movies should not be associated with or affect her books, as they are separate entities.