Final 'Divergent' sequel, 'Allegiant,' to be split into two movies

LOS ANGELES, April 11 (UPI) -- Lionsgate/Summit announced Friday that the final sequel of the Divergent trilogy, Allegiant, will be split into two films.

Lionsgate Motion Picture Group Co-Chairmen Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger said in a statement that the "storytelling arc" of author Veronica Roth's third book worked "perfectly" for the creation of two films.

“Veronica Roth brings her captivating story to a masterful conclusion in Allegiant, a rich, action-packed book with material that is ideally suited to two strong and fulfilling movies,” said Friedman and Wachsberger.

“The storytelling arc and world of the characters lend themselves perfectly to two films, a storytelling strategy that has worked very well for us on the two Twilight Breaking Dawn films and about which we’re tremendously enthusiastic for the two upcoming Mockingjay films of The Hunger Games franchise.”

The first of the four film adaptations of the novels, Divergent, made its debut on March 21 earning $56 million during its opening weekend. The second installment of the saga, Insurgent, is scheduled to be released on March 20, 2015. The third film, Allegiant Part 1 is set to be released on March 18, 2016, while Allegiant Part 2 is scheduled for March 24, 2017.

The Divergent saga stars Shailene Woodley as Beatris 'Tris' Prior, a "sci-fi heroine" looking for answers in a dystopian Chicago.

[Deadline]