The Epic Comeback: Why This Failed YA Movie Franchise Deserves Its Own Spectacular TV Show
Divergent, a failed YA franchise, deserves a second chance with a TV adaptation, providing a proper ending Following Disney's Percy Jackson success, a Divergent TV series could ignite a wave of new YA adaptations, surpassing the movies in its potential
Summary
The Percy Jackson TV series has the potential to trigger a new wave of YA adaptations, proving that young adult content can be successful on both big and small screens.
Divergent necessitates a thorough retelling that encompasses a fully developed narrative, considering how the film series fell short in delivering a fulfilling resolution and left numerous inquiries unanswered.
Given the intricate plotline and expansive world-building found in the books, a television adaptation of Divergent would prove more successful than movies. This format would allow ample time to incorporate all pivotal elements and offer a comprehensive portrayal of the story.
Once Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians is released, there is already a great option for the next YA TV adaptation. The hype surrounding the upcoming Percy Jackson and The Olympians series, based on the popular novels by Rick Riordan, is growing. This action-packed adventure follows the story of Percy Jackson, a young teenager who discovers he is the demigod son of Poseidon and must learn to control his powers at Camp Half-Blood. However, when he is falsely accused of stealing Zeus' thunderbolt, he must find a way to clear his name with the help of his friends Annabeth and Grover.
The Percy Jackson TV series is part of the current trend of adapting books for both the big and small screens. What sets it apart is that it previously had an unsuccessful movie series. With the release of Percy Jackson and the Olympians, there is another book series that deserves a second chance at a screen adaptation. Previously, Summit Entertainment attempted to bring the Divergent books to life on the silver screen, but unfortunately, they did not succeed, resulting in the cancellation of the final film. Despite this setback, the Divergent books offer a captivating storyline and well-developed characters that would thrive in a TV production.
Divergent Deserves An Adaptation With A Proper Ending
The Divergent series started off strong, but took a downturn when Insurgent deviated significantly from the book. Fans of the source material were unhappy with the changes, and things only got worse from there. The decision to split Allegiant into two movies felt like a cash grab, following the example of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and Twilight: Breaking Dawn. Unfortunately, when Allegiant was released, it received even worse critical ratings, box office results, and fan reception.
Following the failure of Allegiant, the production company drastically reduced the budget for the final movie. They decided against a theatrical release due to the risks outweighing the benefits. Rumors circulated about the possibility of creating a TV show to complete the series. While this format would have been ideal from the start, making the switch after three movies would have felt out of sync with the previous adaptations. Ultimately, the discussion turned to the option of a TV movie to wrap up the series.
Disney's Percy Jackson Could Trigger A Wave Of New YA Adaptations
: Lack of interest from key actors leads to incomplete film seriesNone of the actors showed any enthusiasm for this option, as Theo James, Shailene Woodley, and Miles Teller explicitly stated that they would not take part in the final film if this change were to occur. Consequently, the movie franchise came to a halt after the release of the first installment, Allegiant. Unfortunately, the series was left unfinished, leaving numerous unresolved questions. While the Allegiant book provided answers to some of the major inquiries, audiences never witnessed a proper on-screen conclusion. Considering the captivating ending presented in the books, it is only fair for the franchise to receive an adaptation that fully tells the story. The possibility of this happening may depend on the success of an upcoming adaptation.
Similar to the case of Divergent, the Percy Jackson and the Olympians movies previously met with failure. However, devoted fans of the book series can rejoice as Disney is offering another opportunity to delve into the mythology-based YA world with a Percy Jackson TV show on Disney+, set to premiere on December 20, 2023. A promising glimpse of the series can be seen in the teaser, which showcases accurate depictions of Percy Jackson's beloved characters and iconic locations. The creators' evident attention to and admiration for the source material are sure to captivate fans of the original books.
If Disney's Percy Jackson and the Olympians performs as anticipated, it has the potential to ignite a fresh wave of YA adaptations for both the silver screen and small screen. Despite the negative perception surrounding YA novels, the Percy Jackson TV series has the opportunity to demonstrate to broadcast networks and streaming platforms that audiences are willing to engage with young adult content. The success of this show could effectively emphasize the viability of investing in YA adaptations.
Moreover, producers may explore the idea of revitalizing book franchises that previously struggled in the movie realm. ABC's Shadowhunters and Netflix's A Series of Unfortunate Events have already demonstrated the merits of this approach, albeit with only one film each. Percy Jackson and The Olympians, which already had two prior movies, would serve as a reminder to the television industry that a story does not have to be confined to a single installment. Even books with unsuccessful movie adaptations possess the potential to serve as a foundation for compelling TV content.
A Divergent TV Series Would Work Better Than The Movies
Successful adaptations ensure that all the essential plot elements are included, but adapting the extensive content of the Divergent books presents a challenge. With a total of 1,842 action-packed pages filled with character development and world-building, it would be difficult to condense everything for movies. Even if the original plan of four movies were executed, it would only provide six to eight hours for such a complex dystopian tale.
Similar to Percy Jackson and the Olympians, Divergent would fare better as a TV adaptation rather than movies. A network or streaming site could create one season, offering approximately ten to twenty hours to tell the story effectively. This approach would work best if every moment in the episodes held significance. Ideally, each Divergent book could be adapted into its own season, ensuring the inclusion of as much canon content as possible. Here's hoping that the success of the Percy Jackson series paves the way for a Divergent TV adaptation to materialize.
