Lionsgate and Summit have cast actress Octavia Spencer for a role in the Divergent sequel, Insurgent.
Spencer, who is best known for The Help for which she won an Academy Award, will play Johanna, according to The Hollywood Reporter. Johanna is the Amity faction leader.
Insurgent is set for a March 20, 2015 theatrical release and will be directed by Robert Schwentke. Stars from the first film, Shailene Woodley, Theo James and Kate Winslet are set to return for the second of four planned films. The final book, Allegiant will be released through the now popular split method. Allegiant Part 1 will be out March 18, 2016 and the last film will follow on March 24, 2017.
The first film Divergent, based off the popular YA series by Veronica Roth, was fairly successful, earning over $252 million worldwide. The film, though, didn't come close to replicating the popularity of the first film in Lionsgate's other franchise, The Hunger Games.
Spencer will also be in Red Band Society, which is a series picked up by Fox early last week and will air in the fall. Steven Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment is producing the series.