Divergent’s sequel Insurgent not to be helmed by Neil Burger

While Divergent is in its post-production phase for its March 21, 2014 release, distributor Lionsgate has begun searching for a new director for the second instalment in the young-adult franchise. Reportedly Divergent maker Neil Burger will not reprise his role for the sequel, Insurgent.

As the sequel is scheduled to open on March 20, 2015, production for the same needs to start by this spring. A third instalment in the franchise, Allegiant, has also been announced by Lionsgate, to release on March 18, 2016. The Divergent franchise is all set to label Lionsgate as a topper in the young-adult genre after its first two Hunger Games movies raked in over $1.4 billion.

The story of searching for a new director for a film’s sequel is nothing new to Lionsgate as they did the same for The Hunger Games: Catching Fire. In February 2011, the film adaptation rights for Veronica Roth’s novel Divergent were acquired by Summit Entertainment. Then Summit was bought by Lionsgate in early 2012 and Burger was roped in to direct Divergent quite a few months later. Divergent, set in a dystopian Chicago, stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Jai Courtney, Miles Teller and Kate Winslet. Author Veronica published Divergent in 2011, Insurgent in 2012 and Allegiant this October.