# Veronica Roth Reflects on the Unfinished Divergent Film Franchise The author discusses the cancelled Ascendant adaptation and her new alternate universe books. - **Source:** [Gizmodo](https://gizmodo.com/) - **Published:** 2026-10-16 - **Topic:** [Business](https://brifing.si/c/business) - **Original article:** - **On Brifing:** https://brifing.si/s/b8725272-7d27-43bb-80ed-a6692dc54c5a ## Franchise Adaptation Stalled The Divergent film series, produced by Lionsgate, famously remains incomplete on the screen. Following the 2016 release of Allegiant, which underperformed at the box office, the studio cancelled the final planned adaptation, Ascendant. The original cast declined to return for a television conclusion, effectively ending the cinematic journey of the dystopian series. ## Cast Departure and Cancellation Veronica Roth noted that the writing was on the wall for the final film when the cast moved on to other projects. Lionsgate attempted to find a viable path forward for the production, but those efforts ultimately failed to come to fruition. The project was officially abandoned after the stars refused to return. ## Controversial Narrative Choices A major point of contention regarding the unmade finale was the death of the protagonist, Tris. In the original book, this character death split the fan community significantly. Roth maintains that she does not regret the decision, viewing the ending as a necessary time capsule of her creative perspective at that specific time. ## Creative Integrity and Growth Roth argues that changing the ending to suit film expectations would have betrayed her younger self. She believes the tragic conclusion was the best work she could produce during that period. While the ending introduced grief to a young audience, she stands by the narrative arc she crafted for the original dystopian series. ## New Alternate Universe Books In October, Roth released The Sixth Faction, an alternate universe retelling of her original novel. This project is part of a duology, with The Last Testimony scheduled for February 2027. These books offer a fresh perspective for longtime fans while exploring different narrative possibilities within the established dystopian world she created years ago. ## Genre Resurgence Potential Roth hopes this new duology might contribute to the re-emergence of the young adult dystopian genre. She observes that the genre has already seen a gradual return through the recent success of The Hunger Games in both print and film. She remains optimistic about the genre's growth regardless of specific adaptation outcomes. ## Openness to Future Adaptations While Roth is open to the possibility of adapting her new books, she is not actively focusing on that goal. She stated that it would be fun if a project materialized, but she is equally content if it does not happen. Her primary focus remains on the storytelling process and reader engagement. ## Legacy of the Series The transition from a failed film franchise to a successful book-based alternate universe highlights the evolving nature of intellectual property management. By revisiting her work, Roth demonstrates how authors can reclaim their narratives. This shift underscores the importance of creative autonomy over the commercial pressures often found in large-scale Hollywood film adaptations. ## Sources covering this story - https://gizmodo.com/divergent-author-looks-back-on-that-never-realized-final-film-2000827005 — --- _Summary written by Brifing from the original reporting. Copyright in the original article belongs to its publisher; read the full piece at the link above._