WEIRDLAND: Shailene Woodley not keen on Ascendant TV show, Ostracism in contemporary America

Saturday, September 10, 2016

Shailene Woodley not keen on Ascendant TV show, Ostracism in contemporary America

Lionsgate cut the budget for the fourth film, Ascendant, and announced plans to complete the franchise with a TV movie – leaving room for a spinoff series to continue telling stories within the world of Divergent. But, the cast of the Divergent films have not been confirmed to return for the TV movie, and the franchise’s star, Shailene Woodley previously said she hadn’t been warned about the change from film to television prior to its announcement. 

In an interview with Screen Rant while promoting Snowden, Woodley was asked whether there’s been an update on Ascendant and whether she’s on board with the final Divergent film. She said: "Last I heard they were trying to make it into a television show. I didn’t sign up to be in a television show. Out of respect to the studio and everyone in involved, they may have changed their mind and may be doing something different, but I’m not necessarily interested in doing a television show." When Woodley previously commented on the news that Divergent: Ascendant would be released on TV, the actress didn’t give an answer either way about whether she’d be up to return. 

When fellow Divergent star Miles Teller was asked about his intention to reprise his role as Peter, he had a similar answer of holding off any decision until he found out the details of the changed project. The actors involved in the Divergent franchise signed on for a final film that would be released in theaters, but since Lionsgate changed that plan, the actors may choose to part ways with the series. If that happens the studio would likely need to recast many of the major roles, perhaps with stars that would be up to return for the potential spinoff series. Given Woodley’s comment it seems likely she won’t return for the TV movie – though that may not be final. With so little known about what form Ascendant will take going forward it remains to be seen how exactly the studio wraps up the Divergent franchise, and/or continues it on television. Source: screenrant.com

There is a focus in the world of Divergent upon a community in which being alone, or “factionless,” would be worse than death, for factionlessness means homelessness, poverty, and ostracism – to avoid this fate, people must choose and subscribe to the identities of the five factions. In Divergent, uniforms work more conventionally, with each faction wearing clothing fitting for their virtue, yet these uniforms perpetuate the theme of physical appearance coding for identity. Tris Prior (Shailene Woodley) is warned she is Divergent and will never fit into any one group. When she discovers a conspiracy by a faction leader (Kate Winslet) to destroy all Divergents, Tris must learn to trust in the mysterious Four (Theo James) and together they must find out what makes being Divergent so dangerous before it's too late. Source: scholarship.claremont.edu

Some people have to deal with being ostracized on a daily basis. For any of several reasons, they are shunned by those near them and isolated from social circles that would otherwise be available. Being excluded and ignored has a negative effect on many aspects of social, physiological and psychological functioning. For example, people may become dishonest, cognitive abilities may decline over time, negative affect increases and harmful behaviors become more common. Ostracism appears to be linked with risky decision-making behaviors, but there is still much to learn about the nature of the relationship. Source: www.psypost.org

According to some industry rumor gossip (Crazy Days and Nights Blind Item #11 July 2016), Shailene Woodley being seen holding hands with 'gal pal' actress Isidora Goreshter on Valentine's Day lead Lionsgate to panick and they threatened to ostracize her if she didn't deny their relationship. These insiders felt that "She cracked open the door in her closet and the studio basically shamed her and accused of trying to sabotage the Divergent franchise." 

Tris has to leave an Eden of some sort behind. Life isn’t the same for her after she leaves Abnegation. But the bulk of the movie is a very socially-charged statement that makes parallels to contemporary America. It tells us we’re a country deeply divided into factions. And who’s winning? The technocrats and the military who form an alliance and use surveillance and military might to rule. The ideas of humility and modesty represented by the Abnegation are being overrun. As in America now, there’s a near worship of technology while at the same time a feeling that more selfless virtues are vanishing.  It may not be as well-paced as “The Hunger Games,” or cover as much territory, but "Divergent" is a powerful story that tells us how we’re losing our soul and mojo now in contemporary America.
Source: spiritualpopculture.com

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