Everyone is calling ‘Divergent’ the next Hunger Games, including the studio behind both movies, Lionsgate. In a recent call with investors, Lionsgate executives identified the key differences between both franchises, which are especially important considering the existing similarities within both stories: both led by a strong female protagonist, both set in a dystopian world, and both fighting against an unjust system.
Shailene Woodley is 'Tris' in Divergent
However, the executives mentioned in the call that in Divergent, “the society is different” whereas the Hunger Games “is about the society that’s striving for survival.” He also added, “Divergent is about the way a society is surviving with distinct personalities and how those personalities interweave with each other.”
While the distinction serves to clear up some doubts from investors that ‘Divergent’ is not innovative enough to do well at the box office, the real question is whether it will become the next huge book-to-movie franchise, something the investors and executives are clearly hoping for. Almost every chance they get, Lionsgate mentions that the Divergent book sales are tracking ahead of both the Hunger Games and Twilight at the same point in their cycles.
A still from the massively successful 'Hunger Games'
Divergent is also following the trend of casting not well-known but critically acclaimed actresses in the lead role, something the Hunger Games did to great success with Jennifer Lawrence and something Divergent hopes to emulate with Shailene Woodley. While the similarities definitely exist, it’s really up to fans to decide whether they will turn up for the movie. Do you think Divergent will do as well as the Hunger Games at the box office?
Shailene Woodley discusses Divergent with MTV
