The sequel to "Divergent" has landed a new writer.
Variety reports that Akiva Goldsman has come on to rework the script to Lionsgate's "Insurgent," which was originally written by Brian Duffield.
The news comes a month after it was reported that Neil Burger confirmed he would not direct the sequel to "Divergent." It was also reported that the studio would go ahead with two films before the release of "Divergent." "Insurgent" will be released on March 20, 2015 and will require production to start this spring. Meanwhile, the third film, "Allegiant," will come out a year later on March 18, 2016.
Goldsman is best known for his work on "A Beautiful Mind" for which he won an Academy Award. He also wrote "Cinderella Man," "Batman and Robin," "The Dan Vinci Code," "I, Robot," "I Am Legend" and "Angels & Demons." He recently produced, wrote and directed the upcoming mythic romance "Winter's Tale," starring Colin Farrell, Jessica Brown Findlay, Jennifer Connelly and Russell Crowe.
"Divergent" is slated has been compared to "The Hunger Games" and is expected to become the next major franchise.
The film, which stars Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Miles Teller, Maggie Q, Zoe Kravitz, and Kate Winslet, tells the story of Beatrice Prior, a teenager with a special mind, who finds her life threatened when an authoritarian leader seeks to exterminate her kind in her effort to seize control of their divided society. Summit Entertainment is slated to distribute it on March 21, 2014.