Veronica Roth releases 'The Sixth Faction', an alternate-universe Divergent retelling
Author Veronica Roth released The Sixth Faction on Oct. 6, a retelling of Divergent. In an interview she discussed the unmade fourth film, Ascendant, and said she is open to an adaptation but focused on books.
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The story, neutrally told
Left · 1Veronica Roth released The Sixth Faction on Oct. 6, an alternate-universe retelling of her Divergent series rather than a prequel or sequel, and the first book in a planned duology. The Hollywood ReporterLC “The first book in a planned duology is an alternate-universe retelling rather than a prequel or sequel” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1The story asks what would have happened if protagonist Beatrice "Tris" Prior had chosen differently: tragedy strikes at her choosing ceremony and she ends up in the crosshairs of an underground rebellion. The Hollywood ReporterLC “explores what happens when tragedy strikes at Tris’ choosing ceremony” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Left · 1Roth told The Hollywood Reporter she carried "anxiety baggage" about Divergent and made the new book to rediscover her love for the characters and world. She said it emerged as a conspiracy thriller and is "a little more about collective action" than the original's chosen-one story. The Hollywood ReporterLC “I’d carried some anxiety baggage about Divergent, and I thought making something new would help me rediscover my love for the characters and the world.”“a little more about collective action” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Left · 1Love interest Four appears, and Roth said that, unlike in the original books, he and Tris meet on equal footing rather than as instructor and student, a setup she called "a little problematic". The Hollywood ReporterLC “He’s literally on the cover”“a little problematic” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Mixed · 2The original film series ran from 2014 to 2016. Allegiant covered only part of the third book, and a planned fourth film, Ascendant, was never made after Allegiant's disappointing box office. The Hollywood ReporterLC “The studio had planned to finish the story with a fourth film, Ascendant, but it never came to fruition after Allegiant’s disappointing box office performance.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Screen RantN “the missing piece was Ascendant, which was cancelled” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Mixed · 2Lionsgate then tried to turn Ascendant into a TV movie for Starz that could launch a spinoff series, but Shailene Woodley and Theo James declined to return. Roth said: "Everyone had moved forward, and we weren’t going to move back." The Hollywood ReporterLC “Lionsgate eventually pivoted to turning Ascendant into a TV movie for Starz that could launch a spinoff series” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Screen RantN “both the leading stars, Shailene Woodley and Theo James, declined and didn't return” Read at Screen Rant ↗
Left · 1Asked whether the films would have kept Tris's death from the book, Roth said it was "hard to say", since filmmakers will always tell an author they will keep the ending. She said she stands by the ending but feels more conflicted about it now. The Hollywood ReporterLC “hard to say, because of course they’re going to tell the author”“my feelings about it have become more complicated as I get older” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Mixed · 2On a possible adaptation of the new duology, Roth did not rule it out: "I sent it to the people I needed to send it to," she said, adding that she is focused on books and would be fine either way. The Hollywood ReporterLC “If something happens, that’ll be really fun, and if it doesn’t, that’s alright.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗ Screen RantN “I sent it to the people I needed to send it to.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ Mixed · 2The second book, The Last Testimony, is finished and due in February. Roth said the Divergent series feels "nice and closed for now", though she has learned "don’t ever say never". Screen RantN “Roth has already concluded writing the duology's second book, titled The Last Testimony, which is set to release in February.” Read at Screen Rant ↗ The Hollywood ReporterLC “nice and closed for now” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Left · 1Roth also released the adult dystopian fantasy Seek the Traitor's Son in May, with a sequel due next year. The Hollywood ReporterLC “She released the adult dystopian fantasy Seek the Traitor’s Son in May, with a sequel coming next year.” Read at The Hollywood Reporter ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left1 outlet
- Framing
- A Q&A-style feature in The Hollywood Reporter's Beyond the Book column, centred on Roth's feelings about her work, the new book's creative choices and the film adaptations that never finished.
- Emphasis
- Roth's personal reflections, the Four/Tris dynamic, the ending of Tris's story, and dystopia as a genre.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Gives no bestseller figures or the book's 2011 publication context.
- Charged language
- “anxiety baggage”“a little problematic”
- For example
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“The author talks carrying “anxiety baggage” about the book series, revisiting the story in an alternate-universe retelling and reflects on the film adaptations never getting an end” — The Hollywood Reporter
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A shorter entertainment-news piece built on the Hollywood Reporter interview, led by whether the new book could bring a screen adaptation and a 'redemption' for the incomplete film series.
- Emphasis
- Adaptation prospects, the cancelled Ascendant, and the original series' bestseller record.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Leaves out Roth's reasons for writing the book, the changed Four/Tris dynamic and her view of the ending. Does not say she is open to an adaptation only in the sense of having sent the book to the right people.
- Charged language
- “may get a redemption”“last remaining hope”
- For example
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“Divergent's incomplete trilogy may get a redemption.” — Screen Rant
“It appears that perhaps adapting the duology is the last remaining hope for restoring the successful YA dystopian franchise” — Screen Rant
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- The Sixth Faction is Roth's new Divergent-world book, with a second volume, The Last Testimony, due in February.
- The fourth film, Ascendant, was never made, and a Starz TV-movie plan fell through when Woodley and James declined.
- Roth said she sent the book to the relevant people and would be fine whether or not an adaptation happens.
Veronica Roth person
Roth says she wrote The Sixth Faction to rediscover her love for Divergent. She is open to an adaptation but prefers books, and says the series feels closed for now.
“I’m so focused on books; that’s my preferred medium.” — The Hollywood Reporter
“don't ever say never” — Screen Rant
Left1 article
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Veronica Roth Revives ‘Divergent’ in ‘The Sixth Faction’ (and Talks the Movie That Never Happened)
Sympathetic Interview feature that lets Roth explain her creative motives and mixed feelings about the original series and films.
Centre1 article
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New Divergent Book’s Potential Movie Adaptation Addressed By Author After Incomplete Trilogy
Mixed Aggregates the interview with an optimistic adaptation angle, speculating about a revival of the franchise.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 16 Oct 16:15 First The Hollywood ReporterLC Veronica Roth Revives ‘Divergent’ in ‘The Sixth Faction’ (and Talks the Movie That Never Happened)
- 16 Oct 19:26 +3h 12m Screen RantN New Divergent Book’s Potential Movie Adaptation Addressed By Author After Incomplete Trilogy
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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