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BREAKING: The male lead in Summit‘s Neil Burger-directed adaptation of Divergent has gone to Theo James, currently the star of the CBS series Golden Boy and whose credits include Downton Abbey and Underworld: The Awakening. He will star opposite The Spectacular Now‘s Shailene Woodley. The film’s set in a futuristic world where people are herded into factions based on their personalities. Woodley plays Tris Prior, who is deemed a “divergent” who doesn’t fit into any group and who learns she and other divergents are going to be destroyed. She needs to find out what makes these divergents so dangerous. James’ character Four is her intense instructor and one of the leaders of the Dauntless faction. For James, it’s a potential star-making role.
Summit is also closing deals with Kate Winslet, Aaron Eckhart, Ray Stevenson and Miles Teller. They will join Jai Courtney, Zoe Kravitz, Ansel Elgort and Maggie Q in the cast. Erik Feig and Gillian Bohrer are overseeing for Lionsgate. The film is based on Veronica Roth’s bestselling novel, and Vanessa Taylor and Evan Daugherty wrote the script. Production begins April in Chicago.
Doug Wick and Lucy Fisher are producing the project via their Red Wagon Entertainment banner along with Pouya Shahbazian. Red Wagon’s Rachel Shane is executive producing. Summit will release the film theatrically in North America in The Hunger Games slot on Friday, March 21, 2014.
In a joint statement, Rob Friedman and Patrick Wachsberger, co-chairmen of Lionsgate Motion Picture Group, said, “Theo is not only an incredibly talented actor, he is also who we envisioned as Four when reading Veronica’s novel which has taken the world by storm. As we continue to develop the film, the studio remains committed to providing fans with a movie adaptation that stays as true to the book as possible and we are confident that we have done so with our selection of Shailene and Theo in the leading roles.”
“We took our time to find the right actor to fill the role of Four, and Theo is definitely the perfect fit,” said Feig. “Veronica has crafted a truly iconic character in Four and we cannot wait to begin production and bring him and this story to life for millions of fans around the world.”
James is represented by WME, and Markham, Froggatt & Irwin.
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Is this a JOKE?!!! Theo James?! he’s 30!!!!!!!!!!!! “Four” is 18 !!! who cast this movie the CW !!! Mark my words right here, this movie will fail because of this casting.
See you opening night, Heather!
Gurl, I dont care if he’s 80. He’s freaking hot as hale. I’ll be there on opening night and the night after and so will all my girls. And when do actors ever play their real age???? Bye hater.
I don’t mind this casting. Theo has a baby face. I’d never heard of him before Golden Boy. As much as I don’t like that show, because I don’t find any of the characters likeable at all, I watch because Theo has the kind of face you just want to look at.
I do like the actor but definitely think they cast too old.
I see Kate Winslet needs money. Remember, Kate, from all the A-list ladies who tried it, only Gwyneth Paltrow succeeded in supporting role in the franchise.
Tell that to Natalie Portman, Cate Blanchett, Emma Stone, Liv Tyler, Anne Hathaway, and Halle Berry, who all had supporting roles in majorly successful blockbuster franchises at the height of their A-list status (Portman has even been in 2 franchises).
Kate Winslet doesn’t need money! She’s out there like all other A-list celebs shilling perfume, make-up and clothes.
It’s not need – it’s greed.
Saw Goldenboy and was utterly apalled by Theo James “acting”. The fact that anyone thinks that guy can hold a screen is a mystery to me.
Why is Kate Winslet doing this sh*t ?! Winslet is above this mess.
The books weren’t anything spectacular, but this casting of Four is way off the mark. Weird.
Yeah he’s pretty wooden in golden boy but guess he has appeal. They must be ageing the characters about 10 yrs from the book bar shailene woodley judging by the castings for this.
Theo James was awful in the pilot episode of Golden Boy. I was ready to write the show off until I watched the last two episodes. He improves with each episode. I think he has real potential.
I read this book, albeit being very difficult. I read like it was written by a breathless 12 yrs old girl. Below mediocre writing. This casting is 10 yrs above all the characters age and a large portion of the fan base of this series. Mary Vernue cast this and must of been pressured by WME to cast Theo.. A cigar store Indian is less wooden than him. Either way, this series and The Maze Runner series will go the way of Beautiful Creatures, failure of the most EPIC proportions. I feel embarrassed for Kate Winslet.
Are you guys watching the same show? It’s apparent to me that not only is he good-looking, but he’s a good actor!
Maybe it will work out, but out of all the names floating around they choose Theo James? Are they serious? Shailene Woodley I can deal with because she is a good young actress, but Theo James?
Finally. Love Theo from the moment I saw him on Downton. Happy for him. Thank God it wasn’t that Alex Petty-something guy.
With so many good supporting actors Divergent suddenly became “movie to see”
Not everything is about money. Maybe Kate just likes the character and wants to do it.
NOOOOO!!!!!!! Ugh!!!!! they have got it all wrong!!!!!!!! How could you let this happen Veronica!?!?!?!
I’m still on the fence about DIVERGENT. There’s a slew of dystopian YA novels out there right now, many of which are far better. I’m thinking of THE FORSAKEN by Lisa M Stasse, LEVEL 2 by Lenore Appelhans, INSIGNIA by SJ Kincaid and ENCLAVE by Ann Aguirre. All similar, but with a lot more action and more memorable characters than DIVERGENT.
Uh did people forget Michelle Williams and Rachel Weisz in that terrible Oz movie? Tilda Swinton in The Chronicles of Narnia (a franchise that really went south)? Emma Thompson in Beautiful Creatures? Cate Blanchett in The Lord of the Rings & Indiana Jones? Natalie Portman in Thor? Meryl Streep in A Series of Unfortunate Events? A lot of A-list actresses tried roles in a franchise. What’s so different about Kate? It’s a supporting role like the rest, it’s totally different than anything she’s ever done. If you haven’t already noticed, when actors get older their roles get better and better. When actresses get older, it’s the kiss of death unless you’re Meryl Streep. Doing a franchise is a good way for Kate to maintain exposure, get a built-in fan base, collect the cash, and at the same time relish in a fun ‘evil’ role which she hasn’t done before. Sometimes people forget that acting is also a business. These people have to collect the pay check every now and then. Even Philip Seymour Hoffman admitted he does some movies purely for the money. They can’t always do baity, Oscary roles.
I do think Theo James can fit Four on a physical level, he’s extremely attractive and can possibly capture Four’s intensity and sensitive side, I just don’t think his acting chops where they stand now is at leading man level. Much as Alex Pettyfer seems like a d–bag, he would have done the role better. Maybe it was chemistry with Shailene that clicked it… I am willing to give this casting the benefit of the doubt, but I’m not as hopeful as I would have been if they chose based on acting and not on looks.
Theo james… never seen him act, but boy he must be Oscar quality, cos not in anyones dreams does he look 18!! And i like the the comment about ‘who cast this.. the CW’ Ha well true, but you got Lori openden to blame for that mess, someone needs to fire her.
“We took our time to find the right actor to fill the role of Four, and Theo is definitely the perfect fit,” Really?!! a perfect fit if Four was a 30 year old with a receding hairline. What a slap in the face… Stay true to the book my arse! There must be shenanigans behind this casting, there is no way they upped the age of the character by 10 years “just cuz.” Everyone should know the name of the casting director responsible, her name is Mary Vernieu and her assistant Venus Kanani , they hold a lot of the blame for ruining what could of been a decent franchise. Four will be 35 by the third film! Think about that!
OMG……I totally agree with you. So upset about the casting he is going to look old by the time the 3rd book will start filming.
Miles Teller is the man!
I don’t care if he’s hot I don’t even care about his age but he doesn’t look like four
Theo James will make a perfect Four/Tobias! He has the right look and appeal. I’ll be there opening night
Shailene Woodley (who is playing Tris) said in an interview “Four should be manly with vulnerable eyes” and after watching Golden Boy, I have no doubt. His voice alone is ridiculously deep and he is seriously attractive. Perfect casting choices. Cannot wait for the film to come out. (Fourtris will be the death of me)
Agreed! He is hot and lionsgate usually knows what they are doing! I still think this movie will be amazing no matter how old he is!