THE DIVERGENT SERIES: ASCENDANT Snags AGE OF ADALINE Director

For all you Divergent fanatics out there, you'll be glad to know that the final movie in the franchise (unless they announce prequels or more sequels later), The Divergent Series: Ascendant, has secured a new director.

THR reports that Lee Toland Krieger, the man who brought us Age of Adaline, The Vicious Kind, and the underseen dramedy Celeste & Jesse Forever, is in talks to replace Robert Schwentke, who bailed on the franchise after directing two Divergent movies in a row (Insurgent and Allegiant). Schwentke reportedly needed a break and wanted to spend more time with his family. Ascendant will certainly be the biggest movie that Krieger has taken on in his career thus far, but Hollywood has proven time and time again that they aren't afraid of giving a young director with indie experience the responsibility of handling a large-scale blockbuster.

Plus, this basically seems like it's impossible for Krieger to screw up: the groundwork has already been laid, the fans are already hooked and going to come see it, he's not writing the movie, and the Divergent series isn't exactly a mega-success on the level of Marvel, Star Wars, or The Hunger Games anyway, so I don't imagine there's very much pressure on him. This looks like a nice middle-range sequel that could be a stepping stone opportunity to larger things in the future.

Shailene Woodley, Naomi Watts, Theo James, Ansel Elgort, and Miles Teller star, and production begins this summer.