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Here's why the last film in 'Divergent' series may not come to movie theaters

Lionsgate is reportedly considering moving the 'Divergent' young adult adaptation to television, echoing a similar decision from another bestselling young adult series. 

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Murray Close/Lionsgate/AP
The 'Divergent' series stars Shailene Woodley (r.) and Ansel Elgort (l.).

The continuing adventures of Tris, Four, and other “Divergent” characters could be coming to TV rather than movie theaters, reflecting a similar decision behind another young adult movie adaptation. 

Lionsgate, the studio behind the “Divergent” films, has reportedly decided to finish the series with a TV film and series rather than filming the planned fourth movie in the series.

The first movie based on Veronica Roth’s dystopian young adult series was released in 2014 and two sequels, including this year’s “The Divergent Series: Allegiant,” were released following that. But the domestic gross for the newest film was far below that of the first and second films. "Allegiant" grossed about $66 million domestically, while the first move grossed more than $150 million, by comparison.

Now, Variety reports, those behind the “Divergent” movies will skip the fourth film and instead end the series with a TV movie, which could then lead into a TV show set in the “Divergent” world that focuses on new characters. 

Lionsgate has not yet commented on the reports of the TV plans. 

If they move forward, the plans for the “Divergent” series are somewhat similar to those of another young adult property which did not do well as a film but later moved to television. 

Like the “Divergent” novels, the “Mortal Instruments” young adult books by Cassandra Clare were bestsellers, but the 2013 film “The Mortal Instruments: City of Bones” did not do well at the box office. 

Those behind the series moved the story to television, and the TV series “Shadowhunters,” which features the same characters as the “Mortal Instruments” film, debuted on Freeform (formerly ABC Family) earlier this year. 

Freeform has renewed the series for a second season, showing that perhaps TV was a better fit for this particular story.

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