Neil Burger will not direct the second installment to the "Divergent" trilogy.
Variety is reporting that the "Divergent" director will not be on board for "Insurgent," the second title in Lionsgate's upcoming young-adult franchise.
Before even releasing the first film in the franchise, the studio has already scheduled the sequel for a March 20, 2015 release. The news comes as a surprise. Most studios wait until the first film is released to announce the next installments in a movie series. Studios like to wait and see how the films perform critically and financially before greenlighting a follow-up. Such was the case with this year's "Ender's Game" and "The Golden Compass." Both film's sequels ended up be scrapped due to poor critical reception and lack of revenue.
Burger is currently in post-production for "Divergent," which stars Shailene Woodley, Kate Winslet, and Theo James, and opens on March 21, 2014.
Lionsgate is hoping that the new film will score the same success as "The Hunger Games" and become the next big franchise for the studio. Based on buzz, pundits are predicting that film will be a mild success.
"Divergent" 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.
Lionsgate is currently seeking another director for "Insurgent" with that film requiring production to start in the spring. Lionsgate has also announced the third film, "Allegiant," will be released a year later on March 18, 2016.
Lionsgate's brand Summit will release "Divergent."
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