What my life has taught me is that ANYTHING is possible and ANYTHING can happen. Do not underestimate the power of possibility. While it does seem like Summit/Lionsgate most likely will continue with the 2 Part Allegiant movies, the possibility of Part 2 not happening is actually completely possible. This is especially since they are filming both parts as separate movies. Granted, it does seem ludicrous for them to make Part 1 of a movie and then discontinue, but things on a similar spectrum of ridiculousness have occurred:
1) While Lionsgate’s book adaptation track record so far has been great, it is not entirely spotless as Ender’s Game flopped after a fairly decent opening weekend. Literally ALL of their other book adaptation movies have done well, so what happened with that? Chris Weitz (director of New Moon) has stated that Lionsgate/Summit “understands the importance of the books - members of which who have read the books and appreciate them - not just see them as engines of possible profit." Upon further critical analysis supported by fans’ general reactions and the movies’ success, he appears to be right. Yet Ender’s Game proves that even Lionsgate can discontinue a franchise if it does not do well. While Allegiant happens to be a threequel, with two previous movies and a strong fan base to fall back on, there are still some fans who are not impressed with the movies, and unfortunately, it has to go up against the conundrum that is Batman vs. Superman: Dawn of Justice which is VERY highly anticipated by most and is a more sound success despite the negative critical and even fan reaction that it may very well get. Dawn of Justice is NOT going to move its release date (it already has multiple times), and I do not think Allegiant Part 1 is going to move either, for a) that often leads to movies not doing so well if they are not of a strong brand and b) Lionsgate seems like they want to keep the series in its comfortable release window even if it is in moral danger. Beauty and the Beast, among other movies opening in March 2017 against Part 2 may also
hinder it from happening per the bomb that Part 1 very much could become.
2) Again, with the Amazing Spider-Man movies. If you ask me, it is one of the most absurd and crazy things ever to happen in Hollywood that they are actually starting over (minus origin story but it WILL be integrated into the Marvel Cinematic Universe in some form or another) the Spider-man movies AGAIN when they literally JUST rebooted them. The Amazing Spider-Man series would actually have been able to tie itself into the MCU quite well in ways which I and other fans have thought of; With Joss Whedon’s quote during production of The Avengers that the key with the Avengers movies let alone the entire Cinematic Universe is “to have all of these stories and characters be tied in and work together, even if they don’t”, one would think that Marvel would be open to finding ways to making the ASM movies tie into their larger universe, again considering that they WERE actually thinking of having Andrew Garfield’s spider-man be the MCU spider-man, among other close connections in the past. Also, The Amazing Spider-man 2 actually did fairly well financially, or at least well enough to not have its series be necessarily discontinued.
3) TV shows like Firefly were cancelled even after they got such high ratings.
To stop the Divergent series with only a half complete ending is about as absurd as Hollywood can go. Besides, for those who do not like the ending of the book, there are rumors that they may actually change the ending or at least include an alternate ending for the home media devices. Even if you do not care for this, consider those that do. Not everyone who is a fan has read the books, and again, maybe it might be changed to a way that could be BETTER than the book. Think about how you felt when some other franchise you loved was rebooted or discontinued. Referring to the former, people’s reactions to the spider-man reboots caused it to suffer ANOTHER reboot, and lose some people’s favorite superhero franchise, including mine.
You always have a choice to make a difference no matter how big or small it may be. Even if it does not amount to much, at least you are doing something to help others and by extension avenge yourself. Do not let this pattern of discontinuing movie franchises without completed stories continue. Others may not be able to deal with it as easily as you. These franchises that were discontinued could have made a difference in their lives if their stories were fully completed. They may not find value in that which is popular or fairly similar, for there is always difference in some form between everything, no matter how big or small, and it is about the WAY that it is presented that people will get value out of it. Perhaps the way that Divergent does things is better to some people than the Hunger Games. That must be true; otherwise there would not be such a fandom for Divergent, and vice versa.
