Author Veronica Roth is revisiting her roots more than a decade after wrapping up her blockbuster dystopian young adult series. Earlier in October, Roth released The Sixth Faction, which serves as an alternate universe retelling of her original Divergent novel. While the literary franchise concluded years ago, its cinematic counterpart famously remains unfinished after Lionsgate pulled the plug on the final planned adaptation, Ascendant, following the disappointing box office performance of 2016's Allegiant.
Speaking candidly about the abandoned film project, Roth acknowledged that the writing was on the wall once the core cast members moved on to other projects. Studio executives attempted to salvage a conclusion, possibly pivoting to television, but the pieces never fell into place. The unresolved cinematic fate leaves the franchise in a unique position where the screen adaptation diverges drastically from the author's intended literary path.
At the heart of the original book's conclusion was the controversial death of main character Tris, a creative choice that famously polarized the fandom. Roth stands by the decision, noting that walking back her past narrative choices would amount to a betrayal of her younger self. She views the original ending as a genuine time capsule of her artistic mindset at the time.
Looking ahead, Roth is focused on her current projects, including an upcoming release titled The Last Testimony slated for February 2027. Whether this alternate universe duology sparks a broader revival of the YA dystopian genre remains to be seen, though the author is taking a relaxed approach toward any potential future screen adaptations.
Veronica Roth Reflects on Divergent, Alternate Universes, and the Unfinished Movie Finale
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