Naomi Watts

Divergent didn’t exactly set the box office alight with an ok worldwide total of 7 million, but that was more than enough for Lionsgate to move ahead with adapting the rest of the YA trilogy as they continue to search for a franchise as profitable as the Twilight series and The Hunger Games.

Part of that strategy includes finding some impressive star power, and it has come in the form of Naomi Watts who has signed on for the next three movies. The King Kong actress will first appear in Insurgent as Evelyn, leader of the Factionless. Watts will then co-star in the two final movies, both which are based on Veronica Roth’s novel Allegiant, the last book in the trilogy.

Insurgent began shooting last week in Atlanta. Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, Kate Winslet and Miles Teller return for the sequel after appearing in Divergent, with Watts and Octavia Spencer two of the most notable new additions to the cast of the sequel which is set for release next March.

Robert Schwentke (RED) has replaced Divergent helmer Neil Burger for this movie, and is directing Insurgent from a screenplay written by Brian Duffield and Akiva Goldsman.

The first part of Allegiant will follow in March 2016, with the finale set for the same month in 2017. How do you guys feel about Watts starring in these follow-up’s to Divergent?

Source: The Hollywood Reporter