Fans Of The Best-Seller Anxious To See "Divergent" On The Big Screen
DETROIT (WWJ) - This story reads like a Hollywood script. A first-time author writes a book, it not only gets published, it turns into a best-seller and is ultimately made into a movie. Too good to be true? Not in the case of author Veronica Roth, whose book series has been turned into a trilogy, starting with the much-anticipated "Divergent," which will be followed by the film versions of the second and third books in the series, "Insurgent" and "Allegiant."
Roth first came up with the idea for "Divergent" in 2006 while she was a freshman at Northwestern University. Four years after that, she wrote the book, which was published about five years later, in May 2011. Now, in March 2014, Divergent is on the big screen -- something fans apparently have been waiting for.
At a special preview of the film at the Emagine Theater in Royal Oak, Michigan on March 4, 2014, the line of people anxiously waiting to get into the screening stretched down the hall, around the corner and practically out the door. Fans cheered and applauded when two of the stars - Mekhi Phifer and Maggie Q - made their appearances on the red carpet.
For the uninitiated, "Divergent" is set in a world where people are divided into factions based on human virtues. People can be one thing, and one thing only, meaning they have to fit into groups known as Dauntless, Abnegation, Erudite, Amity and Candor. Anyone who doesn't fit into a group is considered Divergent and, thereby, dangerous.
The story focuses on Tris (Shailene Woodley), a young woman who is found to be Divergent, and to keep from getting discovered, she does her best to fit into the Dauntless group, whose members are brave, almost to the point of self-destruction. The story's leading man is "Four" (yes, like the number), played by the very handsome British actor Theo James. And when I say handsome, he's movie star gorgeous from head to toe. The ladies (myself included!) attending the screening couldn't wait for him to (finally!) take off his shirt to show off his elaborate tattoo, and reveal those fab abs! And that six pack! Wow!
Some fans I spoke to at the screening said they thought "Divergent" was similar to "The Hunger Games," and I would have to agree in so much as the characters in both stories are fighting to stay alive and both also feature strong leading ladies.
Did I like it? Yes, I did. It's an excellent story about fighting for yourself, your loved ones and what you believe in. And for me, a movie like that is definitely worth seeing.
See you at the movies!
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