Lionsgate might forgo a theatrical release for the final Divergent film, Ascendant and go straight to TV with a spinoff series also in development.
The studio planned to shoot the fourth Divergent film this summer but then the third film released back in March, Allegiant, underperformed at the box office causing Lionsgate to change its plan, according to Variety.
The first two Divergent films grossed a little under $300 million worldwide each, but Allegiant is ending its worldwide theatrical run with under $180 million. The film cost about $110 million to make and about $45 million to advertise, according to Deadline.
It was reported by The Hollywood Reporter back in March that the planned budget for Ascendant would be cut, but there's been no word on Ascendant since.
Ascendant is currently scheduled for release on June 9, 2017 with the director of Age of Adaline, Lee Toland Krieger, attached to helm with many actors like Shailene Woodley and Ansel Elgort set to return. The contracts are for a theatrical film though, so moving to TV will require complete re-negotiations, according to THR.
"They haven’t come to us to discuss deals, but if they think they can skimp on actors' options, they can think again," a rep of a Divergent actor said to THR, whose sources also say the actors have yet to receive a script for the film yet. No screenwriter has been announced for the project.
Lionsgate TV would be in charge of ending the story with the current cast of characters and introduce a new cast that would lead the spinoff series. No distributor has been named.
Lionsgate bought Starz for $4.4 billion a few weeks ago.
As of this time, Ascendant is slated for a theatrical release on June 9, 2017.