“Hunger Games: Catching Fire” isn’t the only dystopian action adventure movie fans have to look forward to, there’s also the latest YA phenomenon to make the leap to the big screen, “Divergent.”
Based on Veronica Roth’s bestselling novel and trilogy of the same name, the movie focuses on Beatrice “Tris” Prior (Shailene Woodley), a 16-year-old girl living in a post-apocalyptic Chicago where every citizen must undergo a test at 16 to figure out what of the city’s five factions, each representing a specific virtue, they belong to — Abnegation (the selfless), Amity (the peaceful), Candor (the honest), Dauntless (the brave) and Erudite (the intelligent).
Tris’ trial doesn’t go as expected and it’s determined that she’s Divergent, someone who shares traits of the different factions, but doesn’t solely belong to one. It’s also a deadly secret she must keep to herself.
What follows is an explosion-filled take on the traditional coming of age story, in which Tris finds that she’s not the only one struggling to stay true to herself.
“I don’t want to be one thing,” kindred spirit Four, played by Theo James, says to Tri. “I want to be brave and selfless and intelligent and honest and kind.”
Directed by Neil Burger, the film stars Woodley, James and Zoe Kravitz, and also features Ashley Judd and Kate Winslet.
“Divergent” will be released on March 21, 2014.