After helming the last two Divergent movies, director Robert Schwentke has exited Ascendant, the final installment of the franchise, The Hollywood Reporter has confirmed.
A source says he needed a break after doing two Lionsgate/Summit films back to back and wanted to spend more time with his family in L.A. rather than go back to Atlanta. Production on the fourth and final Divergent film is scheduled to start in Atlanta in the summer.
Shailene Woodley stars alongside Theo James, Ansel Elgort and Miles Teller in the series of films based on the best-selling Veronica Roth novels. Naomi Watts also is onboard for Ascendant, which closes out the four-movie franchise.
The studio will have to move fast to replace Schwentke if it hopes to keep Ascendant‘s current release date of June 9, 2017.
The two previous Divergent movies have earned $586 million worldwide at the box office, the first helmed by Neil Burger and Insurgent directed by Schwentke. The third installment, Allegiant, was directed by Schwentke and opens March 18.
